Unbeaten and top-ranked Boston College got the quick start it wanted Saturday when Alex Carpenter connected from the slot in the first minute of the game, and the Eagles went on to take a 5-1 victory over Northeastern in the NCAA quarterfinals before 1,077 at Conte Forum.
With two more victories, BC can join the 2012-13 Minnesota squad as the only teams in the NCAA era to run through the entire season without a loss.
BC moves on to play Clarkson in the semifinals of the Frozen Four at the University of New Hampshire next weekend. BC and Clarkson have not played this season.
The Eagles surely have a restless feeling as they approach the next game: They have reached the semifinals six times but never advanced. They showed no nerves against Northeastern.
“You can get really excited in these big games and be too nervous and too antsy with the puck,’’ said BC coach Katie Crowley. “Our players really adjusted well and were able to stay calm and stay cool and be collected when they were in pressure situations.’’
BC has scored a nation-leading 71 goals in the first period this season, outscoring opponents, 71-9. The Eagles followed the same script against Northeastern.
Facing its Hockey East rival for the fifth time this season, top-seeded BC (39-0-0) didn’t give the No. 6 Huskies (28-9-1) much skating room in taking their fifth win. The Eagles’ depth proved too much.
“Playing against the top team in the country, they have a lot of weapons and they’ll make you pay,’’ said Northeastern coach Dave Flint, whose team was making its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. “I felt like we competed right to the end and that’s one thing we’ve done all year long.’’
“Credit to BC, they’re a fantastic team — I haven’t seen a better team in the NCAA.’’
Carpenter initiated the scoring with a shot from about 20 feet that slid under the pads of Brittany Bugalski at 0:50. The senior from North Reading now leads the nation with 85 points, a point ahead of Northeastern’s Kendall Coyne.
Rebounds plagued the Huskies in the first half of the game.
“We tried to get rebounds out there, so any shot from the point is good,’’ said Megan Keller, a sophomore defenseman who picked up two assists.
BC went ahead, 2-0, at 16:54, taking advantage of a loose rebound. Haley Skarupa’s shot bounced back in front of the goal and Tori Sullivan was there to push it into the net.
“It’s always nice that we can get three lines rolling because we’re so deep,’’ said Sullivan, the third-line center who scored her eighth and ninth goals of the season. “We keep pressure on them and get offensive opportunities on all three lines.’’
BC’s dangerous duo of Carpenter (two goals, assist) and Skarupa (one goals, three assists) made it 3-0, combining for a goal at 12:51 of the second, Carpenter feeding Skarupa for her 33d goal of the season.
Compounding its troubles, Northeastern took five penalties in the first two periods, diverting energy to the penalty kill.
The Eagles boosted their lead to four at 1:54 of the third, Sullivan putting in the rebound of a Meghan Grieves shot.
“We try to use our speed because we’re quick and we try to use that speed to take away time and space,’’ said Crowley. “Our first forechecker is huge in that where she’s trying to hunt that first person down. Today we did a pretty good job at that and were able to hem them in their zone.’’
NU, on the power play, pulled the goalie in the last minutes to generate some offense but Carpenter made it 5-0 with a shorthanded score at 17:46, her 43d of the season.
Northeastern’s Kazmaier finalist Coyne, shadowed throughout the game, did not leave the ice without a point. She got NU on the board with her nation-leading 50th goal of the season at 18:20.
“It’s been an honor,’’ said a tearful Coyne, as she closed the book on a record-breaking season, setting school records for points in a season (84), goals in a career (141) and points in a career (249).
“There’s only one team who doesn’t end their season with a loss. It’s tough to swallow but I’m so blessed with the opportunity I’ve had here the last four or five years.’’
