Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Boston University got a goal 13 seconds into the game and went on from there to defeat Mercyhurst 4-1 Friday night in the National Semifinals at Ridder Arena.  The Terriers (28-5-3) will play Minnesota (40-0-0) in the championship game Sunday afternoon. The Lakers ended their season with a record of 29-7-1.

Boston University senior forward Jenelle Kohanchuk's quick goal got the Terriers off and running. Her shot from the right face-off circle appeared to deflect off a Mercyhurst player's stick and over the right shoulder of Mercyhurst senior netminder Stephanie Ciampa. It was her team-leading 24^th  lamplightr of the season. Her goal tied for the quickest goal to start a game in NCAA Women's Frozen Four and NCAA women's hockey tournament history.  Kohanchuk was assisted by Marie-Phillip Poulin and Kaleigh Fratkin.  

The Lakers seemed to settle down after that although they were outshot 12-to-6 in the first period of play.
 
The Terriers doubled their lead just one minute into the second period. Senior forward Isabel Menard's 16^th goal of the season beat Ciampa in the top left corner of the net. However, there were two moments later in the middle period that could have changed the direction of the game, but didn't. Mercyhurst junior winger Christie Cicero hit the post after a great rush from center ice. Not long thereafter, the Lakers were awarded a five-minute power play but failed to convert thanks to excellent BU defense and their own penalty late in the man-up situation. The Terriers outshot Mercyhurst 16-11 in the second.

Boston University put the game away in the third on goals by defenseman Kathryn Miller, her second of the year, and Poulin, her 18^th.

Mercyhurst averted a shutout late in the game when junior Christie Cicero, whose season was in jeopardy after an injury at Cornell in late January, collected her 14^th goal of the year with help from junior Christine Bestland and sophomore Vaila Higson.

Mercyhurst outshot BU 10-5 in the third.

All told, the Terriers outshot Mercyhurst 33-27 and were 0-2 on the power play. Mercyhurst finished 0 for 4 for the contest and just 3 for its last 37 down the stretch 

The Lakers drop to 4-9 lifetime in NCAA playoff action and 1-2 against Boston University in the national tournament. The Lakers still lead the all-time series against BU 4-3.

Boston University will play Minnesota Sunday for the national championship. Minnesota edged Boston College 3-2 in overtime in Friday's first semifinal.

The Terriers are now 23-1-1 when scoring first and extended their winning streak to ten games, second only to Minnesota's 40 (48, dating to last season). Boston University's last loss was a 3-0 setback to Harvard on February 12.

Mercyhurst entered the game with an eight-game winning streak and hadn't lost since a 4-2 decision to Robert Morris on February 8. Senior Stephanie Ciampa finished her Mercyhurst career with a 25-2-0 mark. Her only other loss was to Robert Morris earlier in the season.

The careers of Stephanie DeSutter, Lauren Jones, Jenna Hendrikx, Gina Buquet (the NCAA Elite 89 award-winner), and Kelsey Welch also came to a close.