CHESTNUT HILL, Mass.—For one night, the Boston College women’s hockey team resembled its male counterpart.

The Eagles wasted little time attacking Boston University netminder Eden Spencer, launching 18 of their 25 shots on goal during the opening frame and finding the back of the net five times en route to a 7-1 victory in the Beanpot consolation round.

Though BC (5-13-3) established the early lead just five minutes in—courtesy of a Michelle Lombardi tally—the Eagles refused to relent against the Terriers’ club squad, mounting a prolonged attack that pinned the puck inside the BU (5-13-1) zone for the majority of the first period.

“No matter what the game, we’re always trying to get better,” BC coach Tom Mutch said.

The Eagles top two lines devastated the Terriers’ woeful defensive unit, tacking on the final four goals of the frame.

Outmatched and unable to mount a sustained charge outside its own zone, BU failed to muster a single shot the entire length of the first period, and managed just three in the final two frames despite the Eagles’ reduced pressure in the offensive zone.

With the game already out of reach at 6-0, Terriers captain Erine Sato snuck a shot past BC backup goaltender Christine Moynihan to pull within five and achieve the team’s goal of notching at least one goal during the tournament after being shut out by Northeastern one week earlier.

“It was kind of a dream come true,” Sato said. “It was amazing to see that black thing cross the goal.”

Childhood Chums

For Harvard co-captain Angela Ruggiero and Northeastern goaltender Chanda Gunn, Boston bragging rights weren’t the only thing on the line in last night’s championship game. They had something far more personal to settle.

“We go way back,” Ruggiero said. “I go to her house every summer and after every game she’s always reminding me of a save she made on me so it’s a fun rivalry.”

Neither of the two California natives, who have known each other since competing side-by-side on the state’s women’s team in 1994, wanted to be the one forced to listen to her longtime friend gloat about her team’s win in the most important contest held during the regular season.

With 7:55 gone by in the first period, Ruggiero made sure she wouldn’t have to.

Picking up a loose puck in front of sophomore Ali Boe’s net, Ruggiero sprinted up the right boards unopposed before swooping in across the goalmouth and burying a shot to Gunn’s left to give the Crimson a 2-0 lead.

“I knew that I had to get her to move because straight on she’s going to stop it,” Ruggiero said. “You’ve got to get her to move side to side, so I just kind of dragged it across the net and found a spot.”