Pair of Shorthanded Goals Helps Down Merrimack

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – The Boston College women's hockey team scored two shorthanded goals in Wednesday's 4-1 victory against Merrimack.

Fresh off breaking the Hockey East record for career points and assists by a defenseman, junior Megan Keller recorded a goal and two assists to lead the Eagles. Kristyn Capizzano and Makenna Newkirk each collected a goal and an assist for BC (19-3-4, 14-2-2).

Newkirk recorded the final goal of the game for her 10th of the season. Keller set up the play from the neutral zone for her second assist of the game, giving her 21 on the season.

Captain Andie Anastos scored her second shorthanded goal of the season to give the Eagles the 3-1 lead over Merrimack (8-17-3, 4-14 HEA) late in the second period.

Capizzano's shorthanded goal put BC on the board early with a 1-0 advantage less than five minutes into the game.

Keller added another score to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead with 9:35 left in the first period.

BC ended the contest with a 33-19 faceoff advantage. Junior goalie Katie Burt recorded 23 saves.

The victory moved BC's undefeated streak to 14 games (12-0-2) since Nov. 11. BC won all three of its games against Merrimack this season and improved to 6-0-0 all-time against the Warriors.

Head coach Katie Crowley earned her 151st win at the helm of the Eagles, tying for second in Hockey East record books with Providence coach Bob Deraney. Crowley needs two more victories to tie former New Hampshire coach Brian McCloskey for the conference record.

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No. 6 Boston College 4, Merrimack 1
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Kelley Rink | Chestnut Hill, Mass.

HOW IT HAPPENED

1st, 4:42 | BC 1-0 (SHG): Haley McLean stripped the Warriors in the neutral zone while on the penalty kill, sending in Kristyn Capizzano. She She spun into open space and her quick wrist shot beat Merrimack goalie Samantha Ridgewell high for the game's opening goal.
1st, 10:25 | BC 2-0: Caitrin Lonergan came in with pace down the left wing and played Capizzano in the slot. Capizzano's one-timer bounced off Newkirk in front of the net and popped out to the right side where Megan Keller stormed in unchecked for the rebound goal on an open net.
2nd, 9:00 | BC 2-1: Mikyla Grant-Mentis worked the puck around the net and found enough space to wrap a pass back into the low slot from her knees. Paige Voight crashed the net and Katie Burt made the save on the shot, but Annie Boeckers jumped on the loose puck in the crease and poked it past Burt to put the Warriors on the board.
2nd, 15:42 | BC 3-1 (SHG): The Eagles broke up the Warriors pass to the point on the power-play and Keller beat a pair of Merrimack players to the puck in front of the Warriors' bench. She won the footrace to the Merrimack zone, but with her shooting angle cut off, she played a perfectly-placed backpass to Andie Anastos in the slot. Anastos deked around the defender back on her and Ridgewell, going high with a backhand for the Eagles' second shorthanded goal of the game.
3rd, 10:45 | BC 4-1: Megan Keller picked up the Warriors' clearing pass at center ice and quickly played Newkirk cutting in across the blue line. Newkirk skated to her left and lifted a backhand in past RIdgewell from top side of the hashmark to cap the Eagles' scoring on the night.

GAME NOTES

The Eagles extended their unbeaten streak – the longest in the nation – to 14 games. They are 12-0-2 dating back to Nov. 11.
The last time BC scored two shorthanded goals in a game was in an 8-1 victory at Boston University on Nov. 7, 2015.
Head coach Katie Crowley is tied for second in Hockey East record books with 151 career victories, all won at Boston College. Providence's Bob Deraney (2002-present) also has 151 wins while former New Hampshire coach Brian McCloskey (2002-13) sits in first with 153.
With the victory, the Eagles clinched home ice for the Hockey East Quarterfinals. The two points brought the season total to 32, allowing a claim on one of the four home-ice berths in the playoffs.
The Eagles are 6-0-0 all-time against Merrimack and the Wednesday night win finished off a three-game sweep in 2016-17.
The Eagles did not allow a power-play goal in Merrimack's three chances on the night and they have not allowed a power-play goal in the last 24 straight, dating back to Jan. 7.

TEAM RECORDS
Merrimack: 8-17-3, 4-14-0 HEA
Boston College: 19-3-4, 15-2-2 HEA

THREE STARS

UP NEXT
The Eagles take on Boston University in the first round of the Beanpot on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. at Northeastern. BC is 1-1-1 against BU this season.

Next Event

Team Stats

Megan Keller

Kristyn Capizzano

Makenna Newkirk

Andie Anastos

Players Mentioned

Andie Anastos

Katie Burt

Kristyn Capizzano

Kali Flanagan

Megan Keller

Caitrin Lonergan

Haley McLean

Makenna Newkirk