Women’s Hockey: Terriers ready for weekend battle with Holy Cross and BC

By Sasha Abrams

The Battle of Commonwealth Avenue returns to Walter Brown Arena Sunday afternoon as the Boston University Terriers (9-9-4, 8-6-3 HEA) face the Boston College Eagles (13-11-0, 11-8-0 HEA) at 1 p.m. With the upcoming Nor’easter set to slam Boston Saturday, BU’s previously scheduled contest with BC was moved up a day, giving the Terriers a day off after a matchup with the Holy Cross Crusaders (3-20-0, 1-17-0 HEA) on Friday at 6 p.m. 

Holy Cross, coming off a weekend loss to BC, is now on a six-game losing streak only winning one out of their last 10 games. The Terriers last saw the Crusaders on Nov. 12, when BU redeemed themselves with a 3-1 win after Holy Cross upset them 2-0 on Nov. 11. 

BU’s history with Holy Cross only started in 2019, but the Terriers have still claimed seven wins, only letting up one loss. The Terriers have 34 goals on the Crusaders, while they’ve only gotten 10 shots past BU. 

Leading the Crusaders with eight points apiece are senior forward Carlie Magier (5g, 3a) and junior forward Darci Johal (6g, 2a), who earned two of her goals in the matches with BU. 

Holy Cross senior goaltender Jada Brenon has played in 18 of their 23 games with a 2-15-0 record, a .898 save percentage, a 3.68 goals-against average, and one shutout win. Sophomore goaltender Madison Beck secured her solo shutout win playing BU to total a 1-5-0 record, a .911 save percentage, and a 3.21 GAA across eight games. 

For BU, senior forward Courtney Correia is on top with 21 points (11g, 10a), followed by fellow senior forward Mackenna Parker (8g, 7a) and junior forward Julia Nearis (4g, 11a) each with 15 points. 

The Terriers will likely see both goaltenders in the net this weekend with senior Kate Stuart expected to make the start against rival BC. Stuart posts a 4-6-4 record, a .924 save percentage, and a 2.18 goals-against average in her 14 games played. Freshman Callie Shanahan holds a 5-3-0 record, a .927 save percentage, a 2.26 goals-against average, and one shutout win over eight games. 

Boston College will match up against UConn (19-5-2, 13-4-2 HEA) on Friday before they see the Terriers on Sunday. The last time BU battled it out with BC was Nov. 21, when senior Courtney Correia seized the 5-4 win for the Terriers in the final minutes of the third period. BU’s history against the Eagles is 24-32-7, with the Terriers winning five out of the last six meetings. 

The Eagles leader in points with 23 is freshman forward Abby Newhook (12g, 11a). Junior forward Hannah Bilka (10g, 11a) and senior forward Kelly Browne (7g, 14a) are next with 21 points each. 

In the goal for BC is senior Abigail Levy with a 12-11-0 record, a .934 save percentage, and 2.52 goals-against average in 23 games played. 

The Terriers look to defeat their Comm Ave rival once more before both teams enter the 43rd Annual Women’s Beanpot. BU will match up with Harvard in the first round on Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 4 p.m., and BC will meet Northeastern at 7:30 p.m. on the Huskies home ice after the Terriers and Crimson are finished at Matthews Arena.

Featured Image by Patrick Donnelly