Women’s Hockey: Three takeaways from season-opening sweep of UNH

By Patrick Donnelly

The Boston University Terriers (2-0-0, 2-0-0 HE) swept the University of New Hampshire Wildcats (0-2-0, 0-2-0 HE) to open their season, first winning 4-2 on the road before dominating 5-0 at home.

Freshman goaltender Callie Shanahan started both contests and made 16 saves on Saturday to earn her first collegiate shutout. Junior forward Julia Nearis had two goals and two assists on the weekend.

Here are my three takeaways from the series, all opinions are my own:

Shanahan looked the part

The Commerce, Mich., native got off to a rocky start at the Whittemore Center on Friday, giving up a goal on the first shot she faced before allowing another on the Wildcats’ fourth shot. Nevertheless, the young netminder settled into a groove and looked composed and poised in the crease.

After the two goals on four shots, Shanahan made 24 saves in a row, 26 in all, before cruising to Saturday’s shutout. It remains to be seen how much time she’ll earn in the crease as senior Kate Stuart is expected to return from injury this week, but Shanahan certainly made a case for herself going forward.

Julia Nearis is back in a big way

The powerful forward now has five points (three goals, two assists) in three games if you include last weekend’s exhibition with Holy Cross. Regardless, after two goals and an assist in just three games before missing the rest of last season, Nearis looks to be blossoming into the offensive force she showed flashes of becoming during her freshman year, where she scored 12 goals and 16 points.

As BU head coach Brian Durocher said on Saturday, Nearis’ confidence is high and her stamina is “where it needs to be.”

The game almost looks too easy for her at times. The talent is undeniable, from her shot to her puck-handling abilities, but Nearis is also able to use her 5-foot-9 frame to her advantage, outmuscling opponents and making it nearly impossible to take the puck away from her. If Nearis has found the consistency she lacked as a freshman, the rest of the conference could be in big trouble.

BU got exactly what they needed 

From Nearis’ explosion on the scoresheet to senior forwards like Mackenna Parker (two goals, two assists), Courtney Correia (one goal, three assists) and Emma Wuthrich (one goal) getting on board early, BU could not have asked for better offensive performances from the upperclassmen.

For a team that struggled to score goals both at five-on-five and on the power play last year, to not only have the offense spread among eleven point-getters in all on the weekend, but to also get it from players who are going to be called upon to play pretty significant roles this season, it has to be a major confidence boost moving ahead towards a tough opponent.

The Terriers will return to action on Friday night as they host Northeastern at 7 p.m. before traveling to Durham, N.H., for another rematch with the Wildcats at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Featured Image: Junior forward Julia Nearis takes a slap shot in an exhibition game against Holy Cross at Walter Brown Arena on Sept. 25, 2021. Photo by Patrick Donnelly.