Women’s Hockey: Terriers Look for Jump-Start with Series Against Merrimack

By Michael Wax

After last weekend’s 0-2-0 performance against rival Boston College, Boston University Women’s Hockey (2-4-0, 1-3-0 HE) continues to look for their first winning streak of the year as they face Merrimack (1-6-1, 0-5-1 HE), in a home-and-home that starting Friday at Merrimack and concluding Saturday at Walter Brown Arena.

BU is coming off a 3-0 shutout loss against BC on Oct. 21, followed by a 5-4 loss to the Eagles on Oct. 22, nearly completing one of the biggest comebacks in Terriers’ history.

Terrier graduate goaltender Andrea Brändli saw her two-game shutout streak come to an end in last Friday’s loss, stopping 31 of 34 Eagles shots and keeping the Terriers in the game. Senior captain Nadia Mattivi led the Terriers with six shots on goal, and junior forward Catherine Foulem also had five shots on goal.

11 Terriers registered on the scoresheet in last Saturday’s 5-4 loss. Senior forward Julia Nearis had a spectacular highlight-reel goal, going between the legs and landing herself on ESPN’s Top 10 plays. Mattivi, senior defender Julia Shaunessy, and freshman forward Clara Yuhn also scored for BU, as they shrunk a 5-1 deficit to 5-4 in a matter of minutes before ultimately falling by one goal.

Yuhn and Nearis come into this weekend tied for the Terrier lead in scoring with four points apiece, and Nearis leads the Terriers in Hockey East scoring with two goals and one assist.

Brändli comes into this weekend’s series with a 2-1-0 record, sporting a .962 save percentage and a 1.00 goals against average, while sophomore Callie Shanahan is 0-3-0 with a .908 save percentage and a 3.64 GAA.

Merrimack looks to rebound for an 0-1-1 record against UConn last weekend, losing 3-0 then tying 2-2. Merrimack squandered a 2-0 lead in the Oct. 22 contest and is still searching for their first Hockey East win of the season.

Senior forward Katie Kaufman leads the Warriors in both goals (3) and points (5) coming into this weekend’s matchup, while sophomore forward Tara Blackburn leads Merrimack in assists (3). Kaufman and senior defenseman Teghan Inglis are tied for the team lead in points coming during conference play (2).

Freshman Calli Hogarth has appeared in five games for Merrimack, putting up a 1-3-0 record with a .925 save percentage and a 2.75 GAA. Senior Emma Gorski has also suited up for four starts for the Warriors, going 0-3-1 with a .908 save percentage and a 3.40 GAA.

BU and Merrimack played three times during the 2021-22 season, with Merrimack winning the first matchup in shootout after a 4-4 tie on Oct. 15. BU subsequently won the next two matchups, 2-1 on Dec. 3 in overtime, and 4-1 on Dec. 4.

The Terriers and Warriors will face off Friday at Merrimack’s Lawler Rink, with puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m.