Women’s Hockey: Terriers look for winning streak vs. BC

By Michael Wax

After alternating wins and losses through their first four games of the season, Boston University Women’s Hockey (2-1-1, 1-0-1 HE) will look to go on their first winning streak of the year as they face their fiercest rivals, Boston College (3-2-1, 2-0-0 HE), in a home-and-home starting Friday at BC and concluding Saturday at Walter Brown Arena.

BU is coming off a 2-0 win against the University of New Hampshire on Oct. 14, followed by a 3-2 overtime loss to the Wildcats on Oct. 15.

BU has scored just twice in the first period of their four games so far this season, and BU Head Coach Brian Durocher feels that effort has contributed to these slow starts.

“It’s more about the start, it’s more about the readiness,” Durocher said after Saturday’s overtime loss.

Terrier graduate goaltender Andrea Brändli comes into this weekend’s contests with a two-game shutout streak, most recently in the 2-0 win over UNH. Junior defender Tamara Giaquinto and sophomore forward Christina Vote scored for BU in the shutout victory.

Junior defender Andi Calderone and senior forward Julie Nearis scored during the loss Saturday, and goaltender Callie Shanahan stopped 39 of 42 shots. Nearis, graduate forward Jesse DeVito, and freshman forward Clara Yuhn all come into this weekend tied for the Terrier lead in scoring with three points apiece.

Brändli comes into this weekend’s series with a 1-0 record after a 19-save shutout last Friday, while Shanahan allowed three goals on 35 shots for a .914 save percentage and a 3.07 goals against average in Saturday’s loss.

BC comes into this weekend’s series after an 0-1-1 stretch last weekend against No. 11/13 Penn State, falling 3-2 on Oct. 14 and tying 2-2 on Oct. 15. Senior forward Hannah Bilka leads the Eagles in both goals (6) and points (9) coming into this weekend’s matchup. Sophomore forward Abby Newhook is tied with Bilka for the team lead in goals coming during conference play (2).

Graduate goaltender Abigail Levy has started four of the six games for BC, putting up a 2-1-1 record with a .939 save percentage and a 1.96 goals against average. Freshman Grace Campbell has also suited up for two starts for the Eagles, going 1-1-0 with a .933 save percentage and a 2.02 goals against average.

The Terriers and Eagles will face off Friday at BC’s Conte Forum, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m.