SPORTS Hockey, from A1

Pyne’s overtime game-winner secured BC the 4–3 victory over UConn (18–13–4, 12–11–4) and a spot in the semifinals.

“I’m so proud of this group,” Pyne said. “We’ve been going all season and it just shows we have no quit.”

BC started to create opportunities halfway through the first frame with cross-ice passing, but fell short against the persistence of the Huskies’ defenders, who were constantly disrupting passing lanes. The Eagles’ third line, however, picked up the energy, creating turnovers and forcing UConn to reset. And with less than two minutes left in the period, defender Alexie Guay sent a pass to Cayla Barnes, who fired it back to Guay for a shot from the point.

Waiting backdoor, Caroline Goffredo came across the ice to tip in the loose puck to put BC ahead 1–0. It was Goffredo’s second goal of the season after missing time due to injury.

“To see her finally put one in— and one that meant so much—was really good for her,” BC head coach Katie Crowley said. “I thought that the whole line, especially in the first half of the game, were getting pucks low and creating offensive opportunities from that. They worked hard together and I think that’s what made them so successful.”

The first period ended scoreless, and it wasn’t until freshman Brooke Campbell took advantage of a defensive zone turnover 10 minutes into the second period that action picked up. Campbell located a rebound from Christina Walker to rifle the puck past Levy, leveling the score at one. BC, however, responded quickly.

Abby Newhook set herself up with a pass to Barnes, who sent a back- hand pass back to the sophomore in the low slot. Newhook found an open space in front of the net to tip the puck in for her 19th goal of the season to give BC a 2–1 lead at the 11:50 mark.

But the Huskies rebounded at the 17:20 mark, as Jada Habisch notched her fourth goal against the Eagles this season after firing a near-side shot to the post. The puck popped off the body of Levy and snuck past the goaltender to tie the game at two. After intermission, UConn returned to the ice in the third period with ste ady offensive possession, registering 11 shots and leaving BC without any for the first five minutes. The Huskies struck when Habisch sent a cross-ice pass to an undefended Campbell, who landed the shot to hand the Huskies their first lead of the game at the 14:52 mark.

“I always have hope in this group,” Levy said. “They can pull crazy things out of their bag of tricks. I never think we’re losing until that buzzer goes off.”

The Eagles, once again, responded quickly. Less than 90 seconds later, Hannah Bilka gathered the puck from the boards to send a pass to Guay. Guay fired a shot from the top of the point that found Pyne, who knotted the game at three by poking the puck past UConn goaltender Tia Chan.

“I was so fired up, no matter if I scored or not,” Pyne said. “In between periods, I was so hyper. So, just going out, I think that gave me the extra adrenaline that I needed.”

No team could score before the buzzer sounded, and they entered overtime neck and neck. The Huskies outshot the Eagles 33–30 in regulation.

Just over three minutes into the extra period, Newhook sent the puck up to Pyne, who skated through the remaining defense. Pyne landed a shot on net at the 2:39 mark to hand BC a 4–3 victory and secure the Eagles a spot in the semifinals.

“We have a group in this room that can do something special,” Crowley said. “This is just the next step in the cog. Obviously, UConn’s been a thorn in our side here for the last little bit. It was nice to pull out this win.” n but Ostman stopped it, adding to his save total.

By Luke evans Asst. Sports Editor

No. 4 Boston College lacrosse’s difficult schedule continued with its fourth straight ranked matchup of the season, as the Eagles opened up ACC play against No. 10 Duke on Saturday.

“I think these girls want the best of the best all year round because it just requires them to play at such a high level all the time,” BC head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein said. “And we can never take your foot off the gas. So this is the part of what it’s like to play here.”

Entering the high stakes matchup, Duke held a 15–5 all-time series lead over BC (3–1, 1–0 Atlantic Coast). But the Eagles are quickly chipping away at that lead—having now won four of their last five contests against Duke—and Saturday’s 17–8 statement victory over the Blue Devils (3–1, 0–1) added to that total.

“I think we just had a tough fundamental game last weekend,” Walker-Weinstein said. “And it was a great opportunity to learn. And the girls embraced a really hard week of practice and hard messages from the coaches and they got a lot better.”

The Eagles wasted no time establishing a lead over Duke, as Cassidy Weeks found the back of the net under a minute into the first quarter. The early score set the tone of the game, as the Eagles never conceded their lead.

Kayla Martello, Mallory Hasselbeck, and Mckenna Davis joined the scoring in the first quarter, recording a goal each, while goalkeeper Rachel

Hall let in just one goal, anchoring BC’s defense.

“I thought Rachel was such a leader today,” Walker-Weinsetin said.

“She kept her composure, she made all the saves that she needed to make plus a few extra and I just think the defense really embraced the adjustments that were made this week and they played as a unit and that’s when they’re, to me, the best defensive unit in the country.”

After penalties—which led to free-position goals—plagued BC in its matchup on Feb. 19 against then-No.

5 Northwestern, the Eagles stayed disciplined and allowed Duke just three free-position shots in the affair.

Just like in the first quarter, BC scored early in the second, as Jenn Medjid tallied her 10th goal of the season 1:30 into the quarter to put BC up 5–1.

Duke responded with a goal of its own which brought it back within three, but Belle Smith answered at the 11:07 mark. A foul on Sydney Scales gifted Duke its first free-position attempt, and Lexi Schmalz capitalized, cutting BC’s lead to 6–3.

After the goal, however, the Blue Devils went on a 17-minute scoring drought which allowed BC to extend its lead.

A late Weeks goal at the end of the first half put the Eagles up 7–3, and BC picked up where it left off in the third quarter.

Hall continued to put on a defensive clinic, acting like a brick wall in the second half. After her fifth save of the contest, BC cleared the ball and marched down the field. Medjid potted her second goal of the game to put BC up 8–3 at the 13:37 mark of the third quarter.

Four minutes later, Duke sent a barrage of shots in Hall’s direction, but the Eagles forced a shot clock violation. In a perfect example of strong defense leading to strong offense, BC cleared the ball and again trudged down the field for a Martello goal to go up 9–3. Three minutes after that, Davis put the Eagles up 10–3.

Duke ended its scoring drought with 2:10 to go in the third quarter, and the Eagles went into the final quarter up six goals.

After early fourth-quarter goals gave BC a 12–4 lead and appeared to ice the game, Duke went on a scoring frenzy, recording four straight goals in just over four minutes.

Despite backup goalkeeper Shea Dolce entering the last three games for at least one quarter of play, Walker-Weinstein decided to keep Hall in for the entire game, even after Duke’s run.

“You know, we have a plan, we’ve got two incredible goalies and we make, you know, some decisions in advance, and some decisions in the moment,” Walker-Weinstein said. “And the two of them, Rachel and Shea, have been incredible to each other and they compete but they support each other and that’s all we can ask for.”

A Martello goal stopped the bleeding with 5:54 left in the game, and the Eagles tacked on four more insurance goals.

“I just think these guys sometimes forget how experienced they are,” Walker-Weinstein said. “And I just said to them to take a deep breath, and smile, and let their shoulders drop, and just be calm, and remember how to play at this level and they did such a great job.” n