Women’s Hockey: Terriers fall to New Hampshire in overtime

By Gracie Davenport

The Boston University women’s ice hockey team (2-2-0, 1-1-0 HE) split its weekend series against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats (2-5-0, 1-3-0 HE) with a 3-2 overtime loss at home. 

After the Terriers won Friday’s game 2-0, the Wildcats opened the scoring just nine seconds in. Taking possession off the opening faceoff, UNH sophomore Kira Juodikis’ initial shot was blocked by Boston’s senior captain defender Nadia Mattivi. Juodikis got the rebound and converted with a backhand shot to give the Wildcats the 1-0 lead. 

The first period ended with a 1-0 score and a 13-6 shot lead for the Wildcats. BU Head Coach Brian Durocher was disappointed with the Terriers’ effort.

“It’s more about the start, it’s more about the readiness,” Durocher said. “[We] try to keep playing the game quick, and we did not play quick today.” 

The Terriers changed their play style in the second period and were rewarded with the tying goal just 3:43 in. Just as junior defenseman Tamara Giaquinto scored her first collegiate goal on Friday, junior defenseman Andi Calderone did the same Saturday, which was assisted by sophomore forward Liv Haag and senior forward Julia Nearis.

Just 17 seconds after the Terriers’ equalizer, UNH went on the powerplay. After a failed clear by BU, UNH graduate student forward Emily Pinto fired a shot past BU sophomore goaltender Callie Shanahan for a 2-1 UNH lead.

With 1:35 to go in the middle frame, senior forward Julia Nearis took the puck over the blue line before passing it to junior forward Lacey Martin. Martin touched it back to Nearis, who deflected it glove side on New Hampshire graduate student goaltender Ava Boutilier to tie the game. This was Nearis’ first goal of the season and her second point of the night. Mattivi picked up the secondary assist. 

UNH took control of play during the third period, outshooting the Terriers 18-5. BU’s biggest moment of the period was killing off its third hooking penalty — and fourth overall — with just 4:14 remaining.

“I don’t have a problem with penalties if they’re in the heat of the game, the physicality of the game,” said Durocher. “But when they’re stick penalties or hooking penalties, those are the ones that are frustrating.” 

At the end of regulation, shots were 41-16 in favor of the Wildcats. 

BU controlled play during the overtime, putting up four shot attempts and two shots on net. However, after two minutes of Terrier possession, New Hampshire regained the puck and scored the game-winner on their only overtime shot from Juodikis, who tallied her third point of the night. 

The Terriers will look to regroup with a pair of games next weekend against Boston College. The weekend series will start Friday night at Conte Forum, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m.