Women’s Hockey: Terriers Score Seven to Finish Third in 2023 Beanpot

By Gracie Davenport

Boston University Women’s Hockey (11-17-3, 9-13-3 HE) took down the Harvard University Crimson (7-17-3) 7-4 in the consolation game of the 44th Women’s Beanpot Tuesday night. Coming back from multiple deficits, the high-scoring victory took a full-team effort and featured six different goal scorers.  

After losing back-to-back games following a six-game unbeaten streak, the Terriers found themselves back in the win column at Boston College’s Conte Forum for their first win against Harvard since Nov. 19, 2019. 

“It was an exciting game. We certainly had to answer a big push by Harvard,” BU Head Coach Brian Durocher said. “Credit to the kids. They came back and got the job done.”

The Crimson got the early 1-0 lead five minutes into the match with junior forward Shannon Hollands’ sixth goal of the season. Off a defensive zone draw, the Terriers failed to gain possession of the puck and it found Hollands in the slot who went high-glove on sophomore goaltender Callie Shanahan.  

Shanahan was given the crease for the first time since Jan. 20 tonight and earned her first win since Dec. 9. 

“Callie is a real good goaltender,” Durocher said. “It’s nice to get a game like this because something can happen down the stretch. … Always good to have a couple people ready to go.”

Seven minutes later, the Terriers tied the game 1-1. Following an unsuccessful power play opportunity, freshman forward Sydney Healey collected the puck along the near wall, dancing through three Harvard players. Healey picked the same corner as Hollands to beat sophomore goaltender Daisy Boynton – who was making her first collegiate start – for her fifth of the season.

With three minutes remaining in the first frame, senior defender Nadia Mattivi was sent to the box for holding. The BU captain missed the Feb. 11 game with an illness but drew back into the lineup tonight. 

Less than 30 seconds on the power play, Harvard regained the lead. Sophomore forward Gabi Davidson Adams blasted the puck from the blue line through a screened Shanahan. Her eighth tally gave Harvard a 2-1 lead heading into the second period. 

The two teams traded goals to open the middle frame. Three minutes in, Harvard went end-to-end, setting up a breakaway chance for Hollands. Shanahan made the initial kick save before Hollands regained possession and elevated the puck over Shanahan and a crashing Mattivi. 

Less than 20 seconds later, the Terriers came within one goal. Playing in her 100th career game, senior forward Julia Nearis scored her 11th of the season to cut it to 3-2.

“Time flies when you’re having fun with your best friends,” Nearis said on her milestone.

To finish off the offensive flurry, the Crimson’s leading scorer, senior forward Anne Bloomer, notched her 13th of the season. This was the third goal over a span of 1:21. 

At the midway point, the Terriers came back within one. Junior forward Catherine Foulem found freshman defender Brooke Disher in transition. At the right circle, Disher went high blocker for her sixth goal of the season and third in four games. 

In the final five minutes, the Terriers peppered Boynton with shots and eventually found the equalizer on the power play. Mattivi buried her fifth of the year off a feed from Nearis to tie the game at 4-4 heading into the last period. 

“I think we just had fun with it,” Mattivi said of the high-scoring affair. “Obviously it’s a consolation game, so the pressure wasn’t that high.” 

The Terriers picked up right where they left off in the final frame, and their building momentum broke through at the 11:51 mark. Sophomore forward Christina Vote and Foulem played catch on a 2-on-1 before Vote banged it home. Her fourth of the season gave the Terriers their first lead of the night. 

Freshman forward Clara Yuhn added to BU’s cushion less than two minutes later to make it 6-4. 

“They’ve had solid freshman years,” Durocher said of Disher and Yuhn. ”But for now, we want to do our best to send out the veterans of the team and put our best foot forward in the last few games of the year.”

Vote sealed the deal with an empty netter to push it to 7-4 — her second goal and third point of the night. 

Shanahan secured the win, making 24 saves. BU led in shots on net 41-28. 

“For people to score now is big because you get one weekend and then do-or-die playoff games,” Durocher said. “If more people have a great headspace … it’s going to be a real positive.” 

The Terriers will look to continue their potent offense in their final regular season series next weekend. They begin a home-and-home with the No. 5 Northeastern Huskies Friday night at Walter Brown Arena. BU’s seniors will be honored for Senior Night with puck drop set for 7 p.m.