Women’s Hockey: Terriers Head Back to BC’s Conte Forum for Beanpot Consolation Game Against Harvard

By Miranda Lemus

After falling short to both No. 5 Northeastern and No. 15 Boston College last week, Boston University Women’s Hockey (10-17-3, 9-13-3 HE) will try and regain momentum at this Tuesday’s Beanpot consolation game against Harvard (7-16-3, 6-11-3). 

The Terriers and the Crimson have yet to face each other this season, but the last time the two teams played was at the 2022 Beanpot Semifinals, where Harvard skated to a 4-1 victory. The Crimson later went on to beat BC in the Beanpot Final 5-4. 

On paper, both teams are very similar. Both are currently winless on neutral soil this season, are .500 overall and in their respective conferences, and neither team has won a game against a local Boston school this season. However, BU has more to prove since the last time the Terriers beat NU, Harvard or BC was back in late 2021.

Although neither team is ranked, BU and Harvard both had strong performances against ranked opponents this year. The Terriers won against No. 11 Vermont, No. 13 Providence and UConn back when the Huskies were ranked in November. The Crimson, on the other hand, swept No. 14 Cornell this season with a 2-0 win in November and a 7-6 win in January.

Despite both teams showing glimpses of potential this season, the two have fallen into a short rut. Harvard capped off their last weekend of ECAC competition with a four-game losing streak and BU’s six-game unbeaten streak was broken by Northeastern last week with a 4-1 loss in the Beanpot Semifinals, followed up by a 2-1 loss to Boston College later that week. 

Notably missing from the Terriers’ blue line this past weekend was senior captain Nadia Mattivi, who missed the last game due to illness. Mattivi leads the BU defense with 15 points, and with Harvard bringing in a large group of veteran forwards, the Terriers will need Mattivi’s physicality and elusive slap shot for a chance to top the Crimson.

On the flip side, Harvard has also been missing a key piece to their team. Sophomore forward Paige Lester has missed the last four games for the Crimson. While Lester’s contributions may not be obvious on the stat sheet, her speed and quick thinking created space for Harvard to set up in their offensive zone. Since Lester’s initial absence, the Crimson are winless. 

Harvard will also be without several key players who have quit the team after abuse allegations made against head coach Katey Stone were made public over two weeks ago.

With both teams hungry for a win, BU and Harvard will clash at Conte Forum this Tuesday at the Beanpot Consolation game. Puck drop is scheduled for 4 p.m.