Women’s Hockey Falls Short Against Boston College

The women’s hockey team welcomed Boston College to Starr Rink on Saturday to commence the second half of the season. The Raiders went a solid 8-8-2 in a first half that included four games against top-ten teams and a victory over No. 5 New Hampshire. After a four-week layoff, Colgate was primed to begin the New Year with a big victory over the No. 7 Eagles, but B.C. came away with a 3-1 win.

Neither team was able to light the lamp in the first period, but the Eagles had more scoring opportunities with a 10-3 advantage in shots on goal. Though there may not have been any scoring in the period, there was plenty of action. Colgate committed three penalties, while their opponents, donning their distinctive maroon and gold sweaters, committed five. Illustrating the game’s physicality, six of the eight penalties were for roughing infractions.

Boston College finally broke the deadlock midway through the second period when Maggie Taverna beat first-year goalie Kim Sass from a wide-open position in front of the net. The lead was doubled just 37 seconds later when Becky Zavisza added the second Eagle tally.

Junior forward Beth Rotenberg cut the Raider deficit in half just 2:43 into the third period, when she scored her fourth goal of the season off assists from senior defender Kiira Dosdall and sophomore forward Jessi Waters.

The Raiders produced a number of chances throughout the remainder of the third period, out-shooting Boston College 14-8. With less than three minutes remaining, it appeared as if sophomore Hannah Milan had tied the game, but an official review ruled that there was no goal.

Sass was pulled from the net in the final minute for an extra skater, but the only goal scored was of the empty-net variety by the Eagles to seal the 3-1 victory.

The Raiders had their chances to score with seven power play opportunities, but they failed to take advantage of any of them. Their penalty kill, however, had great success, as the Eagles were held scoreless on their five man-advantages.

The Raiders return to the ice this weekend for the home-and-home rivalry series against Cornell. For those who will be attending the games, the Raiders play in Ithaca on Saturday and at Starr Rink on Sunday. Both games begin at 3 p.m.