Women’s Hockey: Terriers Face Beanpot Champions No. 5 Northeastern to Close out Regular Season

By Miranda Lemus

Photo Credit: Andrew Burke-Stevenson

As the regular season closes, Boston University Women’s Hockey (11-17-3, 9-13-3 HE) will finish their Hockey East schedule with a home-and-home against the No. 5 Northeastern Huskies (28-2-1, 22-2-1 HE). 

This home-and-home will be the final regular season games for BU Head Coach Brian Durocher, who will be retiring at the end of the season, he announced Wednesday.

Earlier this year, the Huskies handed the Terriers their most significant loss of the season with a decisive 6-0 shutout at Matthews Arena. BU sought out redemption a month later at the Beanpot Semifinals. However, the neutral soil matchup ended in a 4-1 win for the Huskies. 

This weekend’s series opener sees the Terriers hosting Northeastern for the first time this season. The home-ice advantage might be what BU needs to top Northeastern, as both of NU’s losses this season have been on the road. 

To add to the Terriers’ advantage Friday, BU will celebrate the senior group of forward Brooke Ersoy, captain Nadia Mattivi, forward Julia Nearis, defender Alex Allan, forward Haylee Blinkhorn, goaltender Andrea Brandli and forward Jesse DeVito for Senior Night. 

Whether it be team point leader Nearis or Blinkhorn, a breakout player this year, this senior class is made up of players who create consistency up and down the Terriers lineup. The one with one of the most extensive contributions this season has been Brandli.

Transferring from Ohio State University and playing as a graduate student, Brandli has easily become the backbone of the Terriers’ achievements this season. Facing 653 shots across 22 games, the Swiss native granted BU a fighting chance against challenging opponents. 

While BU’s senior group has been crucial to the Terrier’s offense, defense and goaltending, Northeastern has a few powerhouse seniors of their own — specifically, National Goaltender of the Month Gwenyth Phillips. Putting up a .959 save percentage this season, Phillips has been the key to NU’s success this season. 

Although Phillips has proved indispensable on the ice, graduate forward and Hockey East Player of the Month Chloe Aurard has been an offensive threat to any team the Huskies have faced. Aurard’s vision on the ice allows Northeastern’s first line to produce endless offensive opportunities. 

The Terriers will attempt to break Northeastern’s 16-game win streak this weekend, starting with a Friday night game at Walter Brown Arena, followed by a Saturday night game at Northeastern’s Matthews Arena. Puck drop for both games is scheduled for 7 p.m.