Women’s Hockey: Terriers drop quarterfinals vs. Providence with 4-3 loss

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The season came to a close for the Boston University Terriers (6-6) Sunday afternoon as the Terriers lost 4-3 against No. 10 Providence College (11-6-1) in the quarterfinals of the Hockey East tournament.

Senior goaltender Corinne Schroeder (17) and junior goaltender Kate Stuart (10) combined for 27 saves for the loss for the Terriers, while senior goaltender Sandra Abstreiter made 22 saves for the win for the Friars.

Despite the loss, BU head coach Brian Durocher said he was “reasonably pleased” with the way his team played. Durocher continued to say that he felt how special teams performed is what had resulted in the defeat.

“Give a lot of credit to Providence,” said Durocher. “They played tough, they played hard, [and] they played short-handed, but they got a couple of power-play goals. We’ve had a great year in that area, but today a couple snuck by.

“While we threatened on a couple of our power-play opportunities, we didn’t squeeze one in, and in the end [that] probably was the difference in the game.”

The Terriers finished 0-for-5 on the advantage, while the Friars were able to go 2-for-4 on their power plays. BU finished the season 4-for-44 on the power play while mustering together a 35-for-38 mark  on the penalty kill.

Providence struck first, just 2:15 into the opening period. Freshman forward Brooke Becker picked up a loose puck around BU’s net and wristed a shot over the glove of Schroeder to give the Friars the early lead.

    Boston had three opportunities following the goal by Becker to even the game on the power play but was unable to convert.

    Just under two minutes into the second stanza the Terriers had a chance to tie the game. Senior forward Nara Elia stabbed away at the puck in the crease, when it bounced off a Providence player and into the back of the net.

    However, the officials had blown the play dead before the puck crossed the crease, resulting in no goal.

    Just over a minute later, a similar play happened in the defensive end for the Terriers. Schroeder made two big saves before a swarm of Friars in the crease resulted with the puck in the back of the net.

    A quick whistle was also blown, and the officials took another look to see if they had blown the play dead before the puck crossed the goal-line.

    After a second look, it was determined that the puck had crossed the line before a whistle could be heard.

    On what he saw with both plays, Durocher said that those types of calls can really swing a game one way or the other.

    “It wasn’t in the net until after the whistle,” said Durocher. “The other one, they saw it in the net supposedly before the whistle. I don’t really get to see what you need to see on either of those because it’s all about the overhead camera.

    “But in a 4-3 game, those two decisions loom large, two-goal swing.”

    Almost ten minutes of play then went by before the puck found the back of the net yet again for the Friars. On their first power play opportunity of the game, senior forward Hayley Lunny picked up a loose puck and wristed it past Schroeder to give the Friars a three-goal cushion.

    With just over two minutes to go in the second period, freshman defender Julia Shaunessy scored her first collegiate goal to bring the Terriers within two goals.

    Providence was given their second power play opportunity 18:26 into the second period. Becker was able to capitalize with 46 seconds left in the period to improve the Friars to 2-for-2 on the advantage.

      Down by three goals, the Terriers put on a come-back in the third period.

      Senior forward Kristina Schuler brought BU back within two goals 1:49 into the third stanza. Schuler was able to walk in with the puck, get around a Friar defender, and shoot it just over the stick-side of Abstreiter.

      With just under ten seconds left in regulation, Shaunessy tallied her second goal of the game to bring the Terriers within one.

      Durocher said that is was nice to see the freshman be rewarded for her individual effort throughout the afternoon’s game.

      “I look at the last probably three to five games where she gave herself an opportunity to influence the game, and I think it not only helped her carrying the puck, which was easy to see, but it helped her defensively too,” said Durocher. “She would go and defend her opponent, and then there would be a loose puck, she’d not only shut the person down but a lot of times get the puck and get going up ice.

      “So, it was nice to see her get rewarded with a couple goals today.”

      But, BU was unable to complete the comeback despite an all-out effort in the third.

      BU’s season came to an end, leaving five seniors for the Terriers with an uneasy decision on whether or not to take advantage of an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a shortened season.

      While Durocher is unsure on who of his five seniors would use their fifth year, he made sure to recognize the careers that they had after the game.

      “They did their best to be the leaders that we always want from the upperclassmen, and in particular the seniors had pretty high-end careers,” said Durocher. “Credit to those five for being just great ambassadors for Boston University.”

      Featured Image: Freshman defender Julia Shaunessy passes the puck in a game against Maine at Walter Brown Arena on Jan. 24, 2021. Photo by Patrick Donnelly.

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