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Late Goal Lifts Maine over Boston University, 2-1
Feb. 19, 2006 BOSTON - With just 5.5 seconds left in regulation, University of Maine's (16-7-6, 8-7-4 HE) Patricia Gagnon (Mont-Joli, Quebec) scored to give the Black Bears a 2-1 victory and a weekend split with the Boston University women's hockey team (12-16-4, 6-11-2 HE. With the win Maine moves into sole possession of the final playoff spot. In BU's final home game of the season, the game started much the same way Saturday's 2-1 victory for the Terriers unfolded. Maine started off strong, brining consistent pressure and scoring a goal mid-way through the first period, while BU tied the game with a late second period goal. Maine got on the board first at 7:33 of the period when Kelly Law's (Markham, Ontario) shot from the right boards found its way past a screened Wilcox. Assisting on the play was Karine Senecal (Montreal, Quebec). On the goal, Law has tied Kelly Nelson's single season record for most points scored by a defenseman (24) that teammate Julie Poulin (Beaucville, Quebec) tied earlier this season. Maine dominated much of the first period by not allowing the Terriers to establish a presence in their offensive zone. BU's best scoring opportunity came at 10:42 when freshman Genevieve Laing won a clean faceoff back to freshman Laurel Koller who ripped a shot off the far post, just narrowly missing a goal. Maine held a 9-3 advantage in shots at the end of the period. Much of the second period was back and forth, with neither team generating too many quality opportunities. The Terriers got on the board with a power-play goal at 17:44 when Wiart picked up the puck off a faceoff in the offensive zone and walked in alone, roofing the puck over Maine goaltender Rachel Gettings (Watervliet, New York). With a faceoff to the right of Gettings, Laing won the puck forward, while Wiart sprinted in from the right boards for BU's lone goal of the game. The third period was another even period with neither team taking control. The Terriers had a few quality scoring opportunities on the power-play with two minutes left in the game, but Gettings came up big. As the Maine penalty expired and the two Terrier defensemen trapped on the ice, the top line struggled to clear the puck to send the game into overtime. Forward Sonia Corriveau (Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec) made an excellent play to knock down a clearing attempt and keep the puck in the zone then found Gagnon who picked up the loose puck at the top of the right circle, spun and fired a weak shot that snuck past a screened Wilcox and just inside the left post at 19:55. Gettings improves to 6-1-1 on the season. The Black Bears play their final home games of the season on Saturday, Feb. 25 and Sunday, Feb. 26 against the Boston College Eagles at the Alfond Arena. Both games are set to start at 12 p.m.
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