Women’s Hockey: Terriers get early tough test with No. 2 Northeastern ahead of UNH

By Stevie Potter

The Boston University Terriers (2-0-0, 2-0-0 HE) had an impressive weekend to start their season against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats (0-2-0, 0-2-0 HE). The Terriers won back-to-back games (4-2 and 5-0) scoring a total of nine goals against UNH.

On Friday, BU is set to take on the No. 2 Northeastern University Huskies (2-0-0), who also had quite an impressive weekend to start their season, sweeping Holy Cross (0-2-0, 0-2-0 HE). Northeastern put up a total of 11 goals against Holy Cross in two games, shutting them out in both matchups. 

The Terriers haven’t faced Northeastern since February of 2020, falling to the Huskies in double-overtime of the Beanpot, and haven’t beaten them in regulation since February of 2017. BU technically defeated the Huskies in a shootout during the 2019 Beanpot, but the game officially went down as a tie. Historically, BU has a record of 31-23-9 against Northeastern since 2005. While these aren’t exactly glowing numbers for the Terriers, the new additions to this year’s team have already proven that they are ready to step up and put in the work.

Three of the freshman in particular stood out last weekend: Kylie Roberts scored her first collegiate goal in the second game of the season, Christina Vote didn’t put up any points last weekend, but she played on the first line and drew the attention of BU head coach Brian Durocher.

“She gives you your money’s worth every single shift out there,” Durocher said, before referring to her as a “forechecking dynamo.”

Callie Shanahan, the freshman netminder, had two wins to start her college career, including her first collegiate shutout. 

Historically, the games against Northeastern are hard-fought close battles. This puts a lot of pressure on the goaltender, which begs the question, who will be in net for the Terriers tonight? With senior Kate Stuart likely recovered from injury, she may be the expected choice to start against the Huskies, but Stuart has never played Northeastern and this will be a very difficult game to perform well in coming off an injury.

Shanahan has been very impressive, but as a freshman, a big game like this would likely be too much for her too soon. UNH is one thing, but NU is a different breed. Senior Nicole McGuigan has yet to play this season and Northeastern would be an unintelligent choice as her first starting game. It’ll certainly be interesting to see who Durocher chooses to start, and how they stand up to the pressure. 

For Northeastern, senior forward Chloe Aurard had three goals and three assists on the weekend against Holy Cross. Junior forward Katy Knoll (2g, 3a) and junior defender Megan Carter (2g, 2a) were also among Huskies to have big weekends.

Puck drop for Friday’s tilt at Walter Brown Arena is set for 7 p.m. BU will also travel to UNH for a rematch with the Wildcats at 2 p.m. at the Whittemore Center on Saturday.

Featured Image: Kate Stuart makes a save during a game against Merrimack College at Walter Brown Arena on Feb. 5, 2021. Photo by Patrick Donnelly.