Women’s Hockey: Rivalry renewed Tuesday night

BOSTON – In the final contest of Boston University’s 11-game in-conference gauntlet to begin the season, the Terriers (3-3-4, 3-3-4 WHEA) will visit No. 4 Boston College (10-3, 7-1 WHEA) on Nov. 20. Three of the BU’s next four games will come against the Eagles, a team that the Terriers have not defeated since Nov. 4, 2016.

BU remained undefeated in the month of November with a win and a draw against Vermont this past weekend that secured their position in fifth place in Hockey East. The Terriers haven’t been beaten since Oct. 28.

The schedule has been equally friendly for the Eagles lately, as they just swept a home-and-away weekend set against UConn, outscoring the Huskies 7-0 in the two victories. BC is undefeated at home this season, where they’ll host BU this Tuesday and Dec. 1.

This is a matchup of two of the best young goaltenders in Hockey East. Sophomore Corinne Schroeder (2.05 GAA, .929 SV%) is the reigning Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week for the Terriers after notching her first collegiate shutout against UVM last Friday.

For the Eagles, freshman Maddy McArthur (1.16 GAA, .948 SV%) has been a revelation in net. McArthur ranks in the top three in goals-against average and save percentage, and she was named WHEA’s Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week for her two shutout wins over UConn. She now has four shutouts on the season, which have her tied for the national lead and are two more shutouts than any other rookie goaltender.

Both of these goalies will have their hands full with the opposing offenses. BC boasts one of the most potent scoring units in the country. They average 3.00 goals per game, and 12 Eagles have found the back of the net this season – nine of whom have scored more than once. Led by sophomore Daryl Watts (8 goals, 6 assists), who was the first freshman to win the Patty Kazmaier Award, and seniors Megan Keller (6 g, 8 a) and Makenna Newkirk (4 g, 10 a), the Eagles have scored multiple goals in 11 consecutive games and are a threat to put up big numbers no matter which line is on the ice.

The Terriers don’t have as much depth as the Eagles, but they have gotten plenty of production from their top line. Redshirt junior Sammy Davis (7 g, 4 a) is leading the team in scoring after she missed all of last season due to injury, and sophomore Jesse Compher (6 g, 10 a) leads Hockey East in assists-per-game and shorthanded goals (2). Throw in freshman Mackenna Parker, who scored her first two collegiate goals in the Terriers’ last two games, and a plethora of offensively inclined blue liners, and you get a BU offense that has scored three or more goals in each of its last three contests.

That offensive presence will be key for BU to compete in Tuesday’s game. The Terriers’ offense dominated the pace of play through five of six periods against UVM this past weekend; in the second game between the two, BU held the Catamounts to just 12 total shots on goal through the first two periods. If BU can keep that offensive intensity up against a BC defense that averages the fewest blocks of any team in Hockey East, the Terriers will have a great shot at stealing a win from one of the best teams in the country.