Women’s Hockey: BU To Close Out First Half against Holy Cross

By Sasha Abrams

Boston University Women’s Hockey (6-12-0, 5-9-0 HE) will close out the first half of the 2022-23 season in front of their home crowd as they take on Holy Cross (2-17-1, 1-13-0 HE) with BU looking to snap a four-game losing streak.

The Terriers are 8-1-0 all-time against the Crusaders, with BU taking the win in two of their three meetings last season, the most recent being a 4-3 road win for the Terriers on Jan. 28. While playing at Walter Brown Arena, BU is 4-0-0 against Holy Cross. 

The Terriers are coming off a weekend sweep from the University of Maine, losing to the Black Bears 3-0 on Dec. 2 and 3-0 on Dec. 3.  

Senior forward Julia Nearis continues to lead the Terriers in goals (7) and points (15). Junior forward Lacey Martin is right behind Nearis with 11 points and leads the Terriers in assists (7). Junior forward Catherine Foulem and senior defender Nadia Mattivi sit tied for third in points, as each has three goals and five assists for eight points. 

Graduate goaltender Andrea Brändli has been in BU’s goal for four out of their six wins, putting up a 1.92 goals against average and a .942 save percentage (ninth in the nation). Sophomore goaltender Callie Shanahan holds a 3.26 goals against average and a .905 save percentage in her eight games.

On the other side, the Crusaders haven’t won a game since Oct. 8, when they beat Vermont 2-1. Their most recent losses came from a weekend defeat to Boston College. The Crusaders fell in overtime at home, 2-1, on Dec. 2 before a 4-2 loss at BC on Dec. 3.

The Crusaders are led in goal-scoring by junior forward Bryn Saarela and senior forward Mary Edmonds with four goals each. Saarela leads the team in points (9), and junior forward Millie Sirum (1g, 5a) and Saarela are tied for the team lead in assists, each with five.  

Holy Cross junior goaltender Madison Beck has been in net for the Crusaders in 15 games, with a 2.70 goals against average and a .922 save percentage. Freshman goaltender Brooke Loranger has seen the ice in 10 games with a 3.32 goals against average and a .896 save percentage. 

The game is set for Friday at Walter Brown Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will also be streamed live on ESPN+.