Kelly Scores Twice in 5-3 Loss to Boston College

Friday, February 4

Durham, N.H.

6 PM

University of New Hampshire

9-16-2, 7-12-1

Boston College

16-11-0, 13-8-0

Boston College

New Hampshire

Photo by: Jess Speechley

2/4/2022 9:54:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey

Box Score

DURHAM, N.H. – Sophomore Nicole Kelly (Brantford, Ontario) scored two goals Friday night, but the University of New Hampshire women's hockey team was defeated 5-3 by Boston College at the Whittemore Center.

Kelly matched her career high of two goals with her pair of third-period tallies. Junior Tamara Thiérus (Saint-Jérôme, Quebec) netted UNH's other goal.

Senior captain Ava Boutilier (Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island) made 11 saves and allowed four goals; she exited the game when BC took a 4-1 lead at 7:13 of the second period. Junior Nicky Harnett (Plymouth, Mich.) stopped 13 of 14 shots the rest of the way.

BC was led offensively by Kelly Browne (one goal, two assists) and Alexie Guay (three assists). Hannah Bilka and Abby Newhook both finished with a goal and an assist. Abigail Levy was credited with 23 saves.

UNH is now 9-16-2 overall and 7-12-1 in Hockey East. BC extended its winning streak to six games to improve to 16-11-0, 12-8-0.

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UNH returns continues its three-game homestand Feb. 5 (3 p.m.) against UConn as the Wildcats celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

FIRST PERIOD

BC recorded an 11-9 shot advantage and scored the last two goals of the period to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
Thiérus started and finished the game's first scoring sequence to give UNH a 1-0 lead at 11:47. Thiérus chipped the puck at the half-boards down to sophomore Avery Myers (Fargo, N.D.), who sent the puck further along to the end boards. Junior Annie Berry (Milton, Mass.) backhanded pass to the low slot was one-timed by Thiérus between Levy's legs.
Tic-tac-toe passing from Brown to Guay to Newhook in front tied the score, 1-1, at 14:27.
Bilka corralled Guay's pass and sped down the left wing before lifting a close-range shot into the upper-right corner to give BC at 2-1 lead at 19:28.

SECOND PERIOD

BC netted the only two goals of the second stanza on a 9-8 shot advantage.
UNH generated an excellent scoring chance two minutes into the period when a centering pass from the right wing off the stick of freshman Shea Verrier (Reading, Mass.) was redirected barely wide of the left post by senior Lindsey Dumond (Hampton, N.H.) in front.
Caroline Goffredo extended the advantage to 3-1 at 6:12 when she maneuvered through the neutral zone and down the slot before sliding the puck from backhand-to-forehand and shooting between Boutilier's legs. Guay's outlet pass from the defensive zone set up the score.
Browne scored 61 seconds later to quickly push the margin to 4-1 at 7:13 when she shifted around a pair of UNH skaters to advance to the low slot and chip a backhander into the net.
UNH was whistled for three consecutive minor penalties at 16:05, 17:45 and 19:33, but the Wildcats' penalty kill allowed just two shots in that span to keep the differential at three goals.

THIRD PERIOD

New Hampshire netted back-to-back goals and outscored the guests 2-1 in the final frame; shots were even 9-9.
Kelly lifted the 'Cats within 4-2 at 2:23. She collected the Marina Alvarez (Center Moriches, N.Y.) stretch pass at the blue line, skated alone down the slot and snapped a wrister into the upper-right corner. Senior Emily Rickwood (Brantford, Ontario) was credited with the secondary assist.
Kelly struck again at 6:53 to trim the deficit to 4-3. Senior captain Lauren Martin (Cambridge, Ontario) chipped the puck out of the right corner and sophomore Chavonne Truter (Uxbridge, Ontario) quickly backhanded a centering pass to the slot, where Kelly sent a low shot inside the left post.
BC reestablished a two-goal lead, 5-3, with a power-play goal at 9:50. Browne's initial shot from the left side caromed to the slot and Michaela Boyle misfired but the puck fluttered over everyone into the cage.
UNH pulled Harnett in favor of an extra skater with 1:57 remaining, but Levy stopped shots by junior Rae Breton (Brighton, Ontario) and senior captain Maddie Truax (Gardner, Mass.) to keep the 'Cats at bay.

GAME NOTEBOOK

Boston College finished with the 29-26 shot advantage.
New Hampshire had a 34-25 edge in the faceoff circle.
BC went 1-for-6 on the power play and the Wildcats were scoreless on three power plays.
UNH blocked 12 shot attempts and BC had 10 blocks.

UNH NOTEBOOK

This was Kelly's first multiple-goal game of the season and third career.
Thiérus scored a goal for the second consecutive game.
Kelly and Thiérus are now tied for second on the team with eight goals.
Thiérus is also tied for second on the team in points (18) while Kelly ranks fourth with 14 points.
Myers has an assist in back-to-back games.
Boutilier increased her career saves total to 2,837. UNH's benchmark of 2,851 career saves is held by All-American and UNH Hall of Fame inductee Jen Huggon (2000-03).
Sophomore Brianna Brooks (Whitby, Ontario) led UNH with 13 faceoff wins.
Berry won 10 of 15 faceoffs (66.7%) and Martin was 9-for-12 (75.0%) in the circle.
Berry, Breton and Truax tied for the team lead with two blocks.