Women’s Hockey: Terriers Push Unbeaten Streak to Six Games with Shootout Win Over UConn

By Michael Wax

Boston University Women’s Hockey (10-15-3, 9-12-3 HE) extended their unbeaten streak to six consecutive games as they tied down the No. 15 University of Connecticut Huskies (16-10-4, 10-9-4 HE) 2-2 before winning 2-1 in a shootout on Friday night.

“Credit to the kids for keeping it coming the whole way, and for keeping a good solid streak going,” BU Head Coach Brian Durocher said.

UConn got on the board first just over halfway through the opening frame. After BU lost an offensive zone face-off, UConn started a rush into the Terriers’ zone. Senior forward Coryn Tormala threw a shot on net, and Terrier graduate goaltender Andrea Brändli kicked the puck out into the slot. UConn sophomore defender Ava Rinker was waiting and shoveled home a backhander to give UConn the 1-0 lead.

“There’s three of us and three of them,” Durocher said. “All three of their kids touched the puck because we didn’t mark them very well. So what credit to them but really, I think something we could have done a better job with.”

UConn doubled their lead after some sustained pressure in the Terriers’ offensive zone. After a face-off win from UConn and a dump-in behind the net, freshman defender Emma Eryou cycled the puck to freshman forward Megan Woodworth. Woodworth held off her defender as she forced her way to the front of the net, and her initial shot was blocked in front. The bouncing puck came to sophomore forward Riley Grimley, who put the puck between the legs of Brändli to make it a 2-0 game.

BU cut the lead in half with just under four minutes left to play in regulation. After several shifts with golden opportunities on net, the Terriers once again brought the puck up the ice with sophomore forward Christina Vote. Vote got the puck to junior forward Catherine Foulem, who skated and waited before passing the puck into the slot. Freshman defender and reigning Hockey East Defender of the Week Brooke Disher was there for the tap-in, her fourth goal of the season. 

A little over two minutes later, and with their net empty, the Terriers tied the game up. Chaos in front of the net led to Foulem charging in from the left circle and putting the puck through the legs of sophomore goalie Tia Chan. It was Foulem’s fifth of the season, assisted by Vote and freshman defender Maeve Kelly.

“I think I was just standing off the pile and seeing what was going on,” Foulem said. “Then the puck just came to me and I tried to shoot it in.”

The overtime period saw both teams gain opportunities to win it, with BU being forced to kill a penalty after junior forward Madison Cardaci was called for slashing. 

“I try to like to coach them as much as I can on the ice, especially in that 4-on-3 power play,” Brändli said. “You gotta communicate a lot and I think we did a great job. They listened a lot to me on the ice, and I think that really gave us the edge at the end.”

Shots at the end of overtime were 26-25 in favor of BU.

After Tormala and junior forward Lacey Martin traded goals to start the shootout, the two teams went scoreless for the next three rounds. After Brändli stopped freshman forward Kyla Josifovic to start round five, Foulem completed her big game with the shootout winner, coupled with an extra celebration. 

“I just think everyone’s buying in right now,” Foulem said. “Everyone is scoring and I feel like our goals have been coming from a lot of different people lately, which is amazing.”

Brändli improved to 2-0 in shootouts at BU.

“I love shootouts,” Brändli said. “I don’t think I’ve lost a shootout my entire career just because I love it so much. I think everyone can tell that in practice… I love that one on one compete.”

BU’s next game will take place at Boston College’s Conte Forum, where they take on No. 5 Northeastern in the semifinals of the 44th annual Women’s Beanpot. The semifinal is scheduled to take play on Tuesday with the puck set to drop at 4 p.m.