BOSTON (Interstat) — Callie Rice scored twice and Bailey Callaway made 19 saves as Boston College shut out visiting Merrimack 5-0 in a women’s NCAA Division I hockey game Wednesday at Kelley Rink. The Eagles improved to 3-1 this season, while the visiting Warriors dropped to 1-4. Boston College controlled play from the opening period and never allowed Merrimack to find a response. The Eagles scored five unanswered goals and finished with a shutout.

Rice, a center from Lake Country, Canada, was Boston College’s top star. The 5-foot-7 forward finished with two goals and five shots on goal. She opened the scoring at 17:21 of the first period, converting a feed from Ava Thomas. Rice struck again in the third period at 44:05, with Sarah Powers and Madelyn Murphy picking up assists. Rice’s recent form included a two-goal, one-assist game at Stonehill earlier this season, and she has been a consistent shot generator for the Eagles.

Callaway, a 5-foot-9 goaltender, earned the win with 19 saves on 19 shots. The former Boston Jr. Eagles standout kept Merrimack off the scoreboard throughout the night, turning aside every chance the Warriors generated. Her clean performance backed a Boston College defense that limited Merrimack’s quality looks and killed off the penalties it faced.

Murphy, a 5-foot-8 right defenseman, was a central playmaker from the blue line. She recorded three assists, five shots on goal and two penalty minutes. Murphy assisted on Maxim Tremblay’s second-period goal, Rice’s third-period goal and Penelope Lavoie’s late goal. Her three assists helped set up three Boston College goals.

Ava Thomas also played a prominent role. The 5-foot-7 right wing had two assists and eight shots on goal, the highest shot total among Boston College skaters. Thomas helped set up Rice’s first-period goal and Sarah Powers’ second-period tally. Powers, a 5-foot-7 left wing, added one goal and one assist with four shots on goal. Her second-period goal at 34:05 came from assists by Thomas and Grace Bickett.

Boston College’s other goals came from Lavoie and Tremblay. Lavoie, a 5-foot-7 left defenseman, scored at 58:27 of the third period, assisted by Murphy and Lauren Glaser. Lavoie also recorded three shots on goal and one hit. Tremblay, a 5-foot-9 right wing, scored at 24:52 of the second period with assists from Murphy and Jilian Klein. Tremblay finished with one goal and five shots on goal. Mila Advani, a 5-foot-5 center, registered one shot on goal. Klein, a 5-foot-7 left wing, had one assist and three shots on goal. Bickett, a 5-foot-4 right defenseman, finished with one assist and three shots on goal.

Merrimack could not solve Callaway, and the Warriors spent several stretches shorthanded. Solveig Gisler was called for hooking at 18:09 of the first period. Abigail DeAnzeris received a tripping penalty at 48:41 of the third period. McKenzie Cerrato was whistled for slashing at 58:19 of the third. Boston College’s Murphy was assessed a hitting-from-behind penalty at 53:23 of the third. The Eagles’ special teams and even-strength defense protected the shutout.

The Warriors entered the game after two losses to Union, a win over Lindenwood and a one-goal loss to Lindenwood. Merrimack’s record moved to 1-4 with the defeat. Boston College came in following an overtime loss to Providence, a road win at Holy Cross and a 17-0 win at Stonehill. The Eagles moved to 3-1 with the victory.

Boston College next hosts Cornell, while Merrimack returns home to face Post. The Eagles will also host Cornell again, Minnesota State and Vermont in upcoming nonconference play. Merrimack is set to host Saint Michael’s, New Hampshire, Holy Cross, Northeastern and Boston College in future games. The teams are scheduled to meet again at Merrimack later this season.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Boston College 4, Merrimack 1. Interstat’s ELO system gave Boston College a 79.7 percent probability to win before the game. The Eagles surpassed that projected margin with a five-goal performance and a shutout.