Halldorson leads Cougars to 8-0 victory over Boston University

The Cougars jumped out to a 2-0 lead late in the first frame, and then poured it on in the second and third periods to take game 1 of the ACHA National Championships 8-0 over the Boston University Terriers.

Led by a pair of goals and one assist by Veronica Smarz, including a heat-seaking shot to go up 3-0 midway through the second frame, the Cougars had production from all lines with goals from Lexi Remillard, Brooke Cyr, Haily Sitter, Victoria Mann, Kadence Cress, and Katie Falkevitch.

Cougars goaltender Rachel Halldorson earned the shutout with the win, and played her best, and busiest hockey of the game through the first ten minutes of the opening frame before facing minimal pressure from then on.

“We got contributions from everybody up and down our lineup” said Charles Tweed, Cougars Head Coach. “Obviously, you know, ten minutes off the start was maybe a little scattered, but I think we just kept getting better period over period, so we are pretty happy with the outcome heading into tomorrow.”

The Cougars did a great job throughout the middle frame hemming the Terriers into their own zone, a period that started with the Terriers on the penalty kill due to a bench violation for not making it on to the ice in time to start the second. That penalty proved costly as it meant a sustained amount of pressure that eventually led to tired Terriers defenders.

For Cougars forward Brooke Cyr, an Agribusiness student, her goal in the second frame ended up being the dagger for the Terriers as it effectively opened the flood gates for the squad..

“I think we played really well. The first ten minutes or so we were a little nervous, but we communicated well and we focused on what we needed to be doing and came out with a win.”

The third period saw a handful of penalties on both sides of the ice, as well as another four Cougars goals enroute to the victory.

Next up for the Cougars is a game against Central Michigan University tomorrow (Monday) at 11:15 a.m. All the ACHA Women’s Division 2 action can be found on tournament broadcast partner flohockey.tv.