Emond and Chartier Rally No. 6/7 Saints to 2-2 Tie

Oct. 23: St. Lawrence University sophomore forward Vanessa Emond scored two goals including the game-tying tally midway through the third period to lift the No. 6/7 Saints to a 2-2 tie with No. 9 Boston University at Appleton Arena on Friday evening.  The Saints (2-1-2) were backstopped by senior assistant captain Brittony Chartier, who turned in a season-high 33 saves against the Terriers.

The Saints tied Boston University 2-2 for the second time in two seasons, as they scored a pair of extra-attacker goals last season to rally from a two-goal deficit with less than three minutes to play.  The Terriers played to their fourth tie of the young season, moving to 2-0-4 on the year with tonight's showing.

"I thought tonight's was another nice comeback effort," said St. Lawrence head coach Chris Wells.  "I was excited about our tenacity over the puck in the third period.  Brittony (Chartier) was huge for us tonight, as she kept us in the game until we were able to tie it up."

St. Lawrence dug out of a pair of deficits on Friday evening, though the team remained winless on its home ice still in 2009-10.  Jonnie Bloemers put the visiting team on top 1-0 with a power play goal at 12:34 of the first period.  Bloemers was able to sneak a rebound past Chartier only 12 seconds into the player advantage to give BU a lead.  Melissa Anderson and Jenelle Kohanchuk assisted on Bloemers' first goal of the season.

Boston University controlled the tempo and scoring chances in the first period, outshooting St. Lawrence by a convincing 13-3 margin.  Though the Saints were unable to get on the board in the opening stanza, Emond would tie the score at 1-1 at 10:35 of the second period with an unassisted goal that swung the momentum in the Scarlet and Brown's favor.  The Levis, QC native corralled a loose puck along the boards to BU goalie Melissa Haber's left and floated a wrist shot that beat the screened netminder for her 4^th goal of the season.

The Terriers regained their lead at 2-1 in the final minutes of the second, as Carly Warren scored her first goal of the year at 17:45 to give Boston University the leading heading to the third.  Warren pounced on a loose puck to Chartier's left at the far post and was able to score with the goalie out of position for a 2-1 lead.

Despite allowing the goal, Chartier was outstanding throughout the first 40:00 minutes, stopping 22 shots to keep her team within striking distance.  Meanwhile, Haber had a solid second period, making nine saves to bring her game total to 12.

With both teams creating some solid scoring chances, Emond would capitalize on a big rebound in the slot to score her 5^th goal of the season and tie the score again at 2-2.  After Haber was able to stop slap shots from both rookie Kayla Sullivan and senior assistant captain Courtney Sawchuk, the loose puck found Emond in the slot and she flipped a high shot past the goal line at 9:56 of the third period. 

Emond's goal served as a spark plug for the Saints, as they began to create more offensive chances and finished with a 12-10 advantage in shots on goal in the period.  However, neither Chartier nor Haber would allow another goal, forcing the overtime session.

Though St. Lawrence had the majority of shots on goal in the extra frame, outshooting BU by a 4-1 margin, it was the Saints' defense that helped secure the tie.  Senior assistant captain Britni Smith and junior Michelle Zimmerman each made fantastic plays back-checking to tie up Kohanchuk and Lauren Cherewyk and keep them from attacking Chartier.  Their efforts helped preserve the 2-2 tie, St. Lawrence's second straight on its home ice.

Boston University finished with a 35-29 advantage in shots on goal and was 1-of-4 on the power play to St. Lawrence's 0-for-4 mark.  Chartier finished with 33 stops while Haber closed with 27.  Emond's goals extended her active goal-scoring streak to four games.

St. Lawrence will be in action again tomorrow, Saturday, October 24 when No. 3 New Hampshire visits Appleton Arena at 3:00pm.