UConn Overpowers Boston College with Second-Period Surge in 6-2 Win
STORRS, Conn. - For the better part of Friday afternoon, Boston College hung with one of the nation’s top teams. But in the blink of an eye - and over the course of a punishing second period - No. 6 UConn showed exactly why they’re a force to be reckoned with.
The Eagles fell 6-2 at Toscano Family Ice Forum, undone by a flurry of UConn goals in the middle frame and a relentless Huskies attack that refused to let up.
It was a tight game early, with both sides trading chances through a scoreless first. But just 34 seconds into the second period, UConn struck first, capitalizing on a defensive breakdown to seize the momentum. Boston College answered with a strong counterpunch - Ava Thomas buried a crisp feed from Sammy Taber and Kiera Dempsey at 8:09 to tie things up, a well-executed play that momentarily silenced the home crowd.
That tie didn’t last long.
UConn responded with a power-play goal at 12:36, then kept their foot on the gas. Two more even-strength goals followed before the period was out, pushing the Huskies to a 4-1 lead heading into the second intermission. That three-goal swing in just over seven minutes was the turning point - a stretch where UConn’s offensive depth and puck movement overwhelmed BC’s defensive zone coverage.
The Huskies didn’t let up in the third, either. They tacked on two more goals early in the period, stretching the lead to 6-1 and putting the game out of reach. Boston College did manage to bookend the scoring - Kate Ham netted her ninth of the season at 19:05, finishing off a play set up by Thomas and Alanna Devlin - but by then, the damage had long been done.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, the Eagles had their moments. Grace Campbell was a workhorse in net, turning aside 52 shots in a performance that kept the game from getting even further out of hand. Offensively, BC actually held a slight edge in shots on goal, outshooting UConn 58-47 - a stat that speaks to their ability to generate chances, even if the finishing touch wasn’t always there.
Special teams played a role as well. UConn went 1-for-4 on the power play, while BC couldn’t convert on any of its four opportunities with the extra skater - a missed opportunity in a game where momentum was hard to come by.
There were a few bright spots for the Eagles: Thomas had a two-point afternoon with a goal and an assist, and Ham continues to be a consistent scoring presence. But overall, this was a game that showcased the gap between a good team and a great one - and the kind of execution it takes to compete with the nation’s elite.
Boston College will look to regroup quickly, knowing they can skate with top-tier teams but needing to tighten up defensively and capitalize on special teams if they want to flip the script in future matchups.