Game-day information: Game 9 vs. Boston University
When	Tuesday, Oct. 29, 7 p.m.
Where	Boston, Mass.  |  Matthews Arena  |  Directions
Broadcast and stats	Live Stats  |  Video  |  Audio  |  Tickets
Notes	Northeastern  |  Boston University  | 2013-14 Northeastern Digital Media Guide
Social media	@GoNUwhockey  |  Battle of Boston Begins  facebook.com/GoNUwhockey  | RSVP To Tuesday's Facebook Event Use #GoNU

BOSTON -- The Northeastern women's hockey team welcomes crosstown rival and Hockey East foe Boston University to Matthews Arena for the first of three meetings between the two clubs this season. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.

Last time out
The away teams prevailed in Northeastern's conference-opening series with Providence College last weekend, as the Huskies dropped a 4-3 decision at Matthews Arena on Friday night before bouncing back to earn a 4-1 win at Schneider Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Freshman Heather Mottau had a breakout performance in Friday night's loss, factoring into all three of Northeastern's goals for her first career multi-point game. After the Friars opened a 1-0 lead 8:15 into the first period, Mottau tied the score with her first-ever tally 18 seconds later before assisting on junior Colleen Murphy's go-ahead goal late in the first period. Mottau and sophomore Paige Savage, who finished the game with a pair of assists, combined to set up senior Katie MacSorley's game-tying goal in the third period, but a late power play goal from Providence's Beth Hanrahan secured the win for the Friars.

The Huskies reversed their fortunes Saturday afternoon, racing out to a first-period lead and never looking back. Savage and redshirt-senior Kelly Wallace scored in the first and second periods, respectively, to give NU a 2-0 lead before PC's Liv Halvorson cut the deficit to 2-1 late in the third period. Junior Lucie Povova responded just 28 seconds later to make it 3-1, and Wallace added an empty-net shorthanded goal with 1:37 remaining to ice the win. Junior netminder Chloe Desjardins made 30 saves in the win, her second-highest total of the season.

Scouting Boston University
The Terriers have jumped out to a fast 3-1-1 start just seven months after reaching the national championship game for the second time in three years.

BU was a dominant presence in Hockey East in 2012-13, going 18-2-1 in conference play en route to a 28-6-3 overall mark. The Terriers pieced together 14- and 10-game unbeaten streaks during the season to earn the No. 1 overall seed in the Hockey East tournament. BU defeated the Huskies, 5-2, in the conference title game to earn an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, where it earned wins over Clarkson and Mercyhurst before falling to Minnesota in the national championship game.

The Terriers have carried the momentum from their remarkable 2012-13 season into the new campaign, earning wins in three of their first five contests. BU opened its 2013-14 slate with four consecutive road games, returning home to Walter Brown Arena with a 2-1-1 record and wins over Union and Robert Morris. The Terriers topped Yale, 2-1, in their home-opener on Saturday, extending their home unbeaten streak to 11 games, dating back to last season.

BU's youth has proved to be a force to be reckoned with thus far, as each of the Terriers' top four scorers are underclassmen. Leading the way are sophomores Sarah Lefort and Rebecca Russo, each of whom have notched three goals and an assist through five games, while sophomore Jordan Juron and freshman Samantha Sutherland each have a goal and three assists. Lefort and Russo have combined to score all of BU's power play and game-winning goals.

Senior netminder Kerrin Sperry has been sensational to start the season, opening up a 3-0-1 record to go along with a 1.70 goals against average and .947 save percentage. As a result, BU is allowing just 2.00 goals per game, tied with Syracuse for 9th nationally, while scoring 2.40 goals per game. The BU power play has struggled, scoring on three-of-nineteen attempts for a 15.8 percent clip, but its penalty kill has been impenetrable, allowing just two power play goals on 24 attempts, the fifth-best mark in the NCAA.

The Huskies squared off with BU five times in 2012-13, with the Terriers winning four of the five match-ups, including the Hockey East title game March 10. Northeastern's lone win came in the Beanpot semifinals on Feb. 5 by a 4-1 score. 

Savage earns WHEA honors
Sophomore forward Paige Savage was named Hockey East Co-Player of the Week after registering four points (1-3-4) and a +3 plus/minus rating in last weekend's split with PC, the league announced Monday.

In Friday's 4-3 loss, the Johns Creek, Ga., native turned in a two-assist effort with helpers on freshman Heather Mottau's first career goal and senior Katie MacSorley's game-tying tally with 5:25 in regulation. She followed that up with a goal and an assist in Saturday's 4-1 win at Schneider Arena, giving her a team-leading five assists and eight points on the season.

Mottau makes her mark
Freshman defenseman Heather Mottau had a breakout game Friday against Providence, notching her first career multi-point game while factoring into all three of Northeastern's goals. The Milton, Mass., native tied the game at one apiece with her first career goal 8:33 into regulation before assisting on junior Colleen Murphy's go-ahead score less than eight minutes later. She also tallied a helper on senior Katie MacSorley's game-tying goal late in the third period to finish with three points (1-2-3). Mottau is the first Husky to open her scoring career with a multi-point game since sophomore defenseman Tori Hickel did so Oct. 6, 2012, in a 5-2 win at Syracuse (goal and an assist).

Wallace has the scoring touch
Redshirt-senior Kelly Wallace continued to find the back of the net Saturday at Providence, notching a pair of goals, including her first game-winner and second shorthanded tally of the season, to give her a team-leading five scores on the season. Wallace, a native of Libertyville, Ill., is now tied for 17th in Division I in goals per game (0.62). She is also one of only 15 skaters in the country with five or more goals and one of five players nationally with two shorthanded tallies.

Power play powers up
Senior Katie MacSorley's game-tying goal Friday against Providence marked the first time Northeastern scored on the power play this season, breaking an 0-for-27 drought to start the 2013-14 campaign. Prior to MacSorley's tally, the Huskies hadn't scored on the man-advantage since Feb. 23, a 5-1 win over Providence College at Schneider Arena.

Sharp shooters
The Huskies fired a season-low 13 shots on goal Saturday at Providence, but it was enough to get the job done as the Huskies found the back of the net four times to earn a 4-1 win. The last time Northeastern tallied fewer than 20 shots in a victory was Feb. 16, when the Huskies topped Maine, 5-2, at Alfond Arena.

Skating shorthanded no tall order
Redshirt-senior Kelly Wallace's empty-net goal Saturday against Providence came with the Huskies on the penalty kill, marking the fourth game this season in which the Huskies scored with a player down and giving Northeastern the most shorthanded goals (five) of any team in the country. Junior Chelsey Goldberg (2) and senior Katie MacSorley accounted for NU's three other shorthanded tallies this season.

Chloe in the clutch
Saturday marked the second time this season junior goaltender Chloe Desjardins was forced to make at least 30 saves, and in each instance Desjardins backstopped the Huskies to a victory. The Saint-Prosper, Quebec, native stopped 30 shots in Saturday's 4-1 win over Providence and made a season-high 33 saves in a 2-1 win Oct. 12 at RPI.

Coming away empty-netted
Redshirt-senior Kelly Wallace's tally with 1:37 remaining in regulation Saturday at Providence marked Northeastern's first empty-net tally of the season. The Huskies had not scored on an empty net since March 9, a 4-1 win over Boston College, and had not scored a shorthanded empty-netter since Oct. 5, 2012, a 4-0 win at Colgate.

First impressions
Two Northeastern rookies tallied their first points of the season last season against Providence. Heather Mottau (1-2-3) and Hayley Scamurra (one assist) found the score sheet in Friday's loss and Saturday's win, respectively, to the Friars to up the total skaters on Northeastern's roster with at least one point to 17. Only six Huskies have not yet registered a point -- three of whom are goaltenders.

Turning defense into offense
Junior Colleen Murphy scored her first goal of the season in Friday's loss to Providence, giving her four points (1-3-4) on the season, the most of any Northeastern blue-liner. The Cary, N.C., native is now tied for 32nd nationally in points per game among defenseman (0.50).

NU when losing WHEA-opener
The Huskies dropped their Hockey East-opener for the second consecutive season by way of a 4-3 loss to Providence College on Friday. Historically, the Huskies have not fared well when losing their Hockey East-opener, averaging just 9.5 wins in seasons where they have dropped their first conference game of the season -- though they bounced back from a conference-opening loss to Boston University last season to go 23-11-2 on the season. When winning or tying its first Hockey East game, Northeastern averages 13.75 and 14 wins, respectively.

Old streaks die hard
Prior to their sweep Oct. 19 and 20 at No. 5 Cornell, the Huskies had not lost back-to-back games on the road in nearly two seasons. The last time NU was bested in consecutive contests away from Matthews Arena dates all the way back to 2011, when the Huskies lost at Boston College on Nov. 18, 4-1, before dropping a 4-3 overtime decision at Dartmouth on Nov. 26. Sunday's 3-0 loss also marked the first time an opponent had kept Northeastern off the scoreboard since Jan. 3, 2013, when the Huskies lost 6-0 at St. Lawrence -- a span of 23 games.

Foss faces first foe
Freshman netminder Sarah Foss made her first career collegiate appearance Oct. 19 at Cornell, relieving senior Chloe Desjardins midway through the first period. In 46:44 of ice time, Foss turned away 16 shots, including nine in the second period alone, and conceded three goals to the Big Red, two of which came on the power play.

Face-off fiends
After losing the faceoff battle in their first two games of the season, Northeastern owned the faceoff dot for four consecutive games, winning the majority of draws against Union, RPI and in both contests with Cornell. The Huskies won at least 24 draws in each of those instances, including a season-high 34 faceoffs Oct. 19 at Cornell.

Starting off hot
With victories over Union and RPI on Oct. 11 and 12, the Huskies started with a 3-1-0 or better record in each of the last three seasons. (Northeastern started both 2012-13 and 2011-12 4-0-0.) After losing their season-opener to Syracuse on Oct. 4, the Red and Black rattled off three consecutive wins, which tied for the third-longest active streak in the NCAA.

Game-winning Savage-ry
Sophomore Paige Savage potted her second game-winner of the season Oct. 12 at RPI, tying her for the second-most game-clinching goals in the country. She also netted the deciding goal in Northeastern's 5-4 win over RIT on Oct. 5, marking the second consecutive season in which her first goal of the season was a game-winner.

O Captain, My Captain
Northeastern has chosen its leaders for the 2013-14 season. Senior Maggie Brennolt was named the team's captain for the second straight season, while Brittany Esposito and Sonia St. Martin will serve as assistant captains.

"I am excited about our leadership group this season," said head coach Dave Flint. "Each captain has their own leadership style, which I think will complement each other well."

"It is truly an honor to be named a captain of this team," Brennolt said. "We're looking forward to another great year and I'm excited that my teammates and our coaches are counting on me to provide leadership throughout the season."

"With our work ethic and talent, we are capable of being a great team and I am honored to be recognized as a leader by my coaches and teammates," Esposito said.

"It is such an honor to have the opportunity to lead such a hardworking and talented group of girls," St. Martin said. "There are so many great leaders on this team, on and off the ice, so I'm excited to get the season started."

Taking it outside
Northeastern is going back to Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. The Huskies will play crosstown rival Harvard on January 2, 2014 at 3:30 p.m.

"We are thrilled to be participating in Citi Frozen Fenway 2014 and returning to Fenway Park," said head coach Dave Flint. "Our program had a fabulous experience in 2010, and we are very grateful to have another opportunity to compete in one of the nation's most historic venues."

The Huskies' first appearance at Fenway Park came on January 8, 2010 when Northeastern battled New Hampshire in the first-ever outdoor women's college hockey game as part of the Sun Life Frozen Fenway doubleheader.

Coyne named to U.S. National Team
NU forward Kendall Coyne came one step closer to her Olympic dream on Jun. 24 when the Palos Heights, Ill., native was named to the 2013-14 U.S. Women's National Team that will train and play games in preparation for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

"We had a tremendous camp with our country's best players and faced some very difficult decisions," said Reagan Carey, director of women's hockey for USA Hockey. "We thank everyone for their dedication and congratulate those that made the team."

Coyne spent last week as one of 41 players at the U.S. Women's National Team Selection Camp that will take place at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid. The camp consisted of daily practices, off-ice testing, and three intrasquad scrimmages, and was used to trim the roster down to 25 players.

Flint inks contract extension with Northeastern
After leading the Huskies to their most victories in more than a decade and capturing the program's 16th Beanpot championship in 2012-13, Northeastern head coach Dave Flint has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him on Huntington Avenue through the 2017-18 season.

"We are pleased that Dave has agreed to a contract extension," Director of Athletics and Recreation Peter Roby said. "Since his arrival on campus, Dave has done an outstanding job of building a program that is highly-competitive on the ice, successful in the classroom, and involved in the community. He does great work on behalf of our student-athletes and I am glad that he will continue to lead our program in its ascent to the top of women's college hockey."

In four seasons at the helm of the Huskies, Flint is 73-51-17 (.578), highlighted by two Beanpot championships, two appearances in the Hockey East championship game and the 2012 WHEA Regular Season Championship. He has produced two All-Americans in Kendall Coyne and Florence Schelling and guided 11 student-athletes to All-Hockey East accolades.

"I want to thank Peter Roby and Northeastern for allowing me to stay at Northeastern for the next five years," Flint said. "We have accomplished many great things in my first five seasons, but we still have more goals to reach. I am excited about the direction of the program and look forward to the future."

The road ahead
Huskies hit the road this weekend to take on Maine at Alfond Arena on Friday at 7 p.m. before returning to Matthews Arena to battle the University of New Hampshire on Nov. 3 at 2 p.m.