40-0, on to NCAA final!

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Overcoming a two-goal deficit and entering the third period behind in the score for the first time all season, the BC women’s hockey team continued a season of possible destiny by scoring goals in the second and third periods and one in overtime to defeat Clarkson, 3-2, in a Frozen Four semifinal game this afternoon.

As the headline on the photo says, senior forward Haley Skarupa scored the game-winning goal early in overtime to send BC to the national championship game Sunday. This will be the first women’s hockey national championship game for the Eagles, and today was its first win ever in the Frozen Four, despite its success in recent years. BC, 40-0 and ranked #1 in the nation, will play either Minnesota or Wisconsin, who play in the other semifinal today.

Clarkson led 2-0 until Skarupa scored her first goal in the second period. Senior defenseman Kaliya Johnson scored only the seventh goal of her career with only 3:53 remaining in the third period to tie the game. BC played nearly the last two minutes of regulation short-handed.

BC men’s hockey team is playing Northeastern later today in the semifinals of the Hockey East Tournament. Their game has been delayed because the earlier semifinal between UMass-Lowell and Providence is in its second overtime period. (UPDATE: Northeastern, considered the hottest team in college hockey with an 18-1-2 record to conclude its season, beat BC 5-4.)