Boston College is headed to the Women’s Frozen Four for the third consecutive season and fifth time in six years.
The Eagles (28-5-5) never trailed in Saturday’s 6-0 victory over St. Lawrence at Conte Forum, with six players contributing a goal.
“We had a lot of young players last year who got a lot of minutes,’’ said BC coach Katie Crowley. “They’ve learned from those six seniors who graduated last year how to take care of things.’’
It is BC’s seventh Frozen Four appearance overall. The Eagles are 6-0 when hosting NCAA quarterfinal games.
BC jumped ahead of St. Lawrence (26-6-4) with 1:24 left in the first period, when sophomore Makenna Newkirk found junior Kenzie Kent on the power play for Kent’s ninth goal of the season.
“I think Andie [Anastos] and Kenzie are both players who have been underrated their whole careers,’’ said Crowley. “They’re extremely dangerous when they have a player like Makenna Newkirk on their line.’’
Junior goalie Katie Burt made 11 saves in the opening period and 24 overall, shutting down the Saints’ top line of Hannah Miller, Brooke Webster, and Kennedy Marchment, which combined for 162 points this season.
“I’m a goalie that relies a lot on confidence,’’ said Burt. “Just having the experience being there is really important for me.’’
Less than two minutes into the second period, the Eagles extended their lead as senior Kristyn Capizzano tapped her own rebound into an empty net. Anastos, a senior who scored in overtime in BC’s previous two games, tallied her 16th of the season on a shorthanded 2-on-1 to extend the lead to 3-0 at 5:56 of the second.
“Anastos isn’t going to miss too many breakaways,’’ said St. Lawrence coach Chris Wells. “I just looked at the BC bench, I didn’t even watch. I just watched if the bench was celebrating to see if it went in. I had a pretty good idea it was going in.’’
The Eagles picked up another shorty 14:54 into the second with senior Haley McLean getting her fourth goal of the season. As the period drew to a close, junior defender Megan Keller slid a shot past Saints backup goalie Sonjia Shelly for her 10th of the season and a 5-0 lead.
Newkirk’s 15th goal came midway through the third.
“No matter which line we put on the ice, or whichever D-pair, there’s a chance the puck is going in the net,’’ said Anastos. “We’re not just throwing people out on the ice, like make sure you throw it in deep and we’ll get someone else on the ice.’’
BC heads to St. Charles, Mo., for the Women’s Frozen Four, and will play Wisconsin in a national semfinal on Friday. The Eagles’ program remains without a national championship, having reached its first title game last year.
“I think we’re hitting the perfect stride at the perfect moment,’’ said Kent.