Women’s Hockey: BU Falls 5-1 to No. 5 Northeastern on Senior Night

By Michael Wax

Cover Photo Credit: Andrew Burke-Stevenson

Boston University Women’s Hockey (11-18-3, 9-14-3 HE) dropped their third game in their last four as they fell to the No. 5 Northeastern Huskies (29-2-1, 23-2-1 HE) 5-1 at Walter Brown Arena on Friday.

“I thought there were some good things to take out of the game,” BU Head Coach Brian Durocher said. “I still believe we have to be a little bit more thorough on [defense], but some of the credit has to go with how fast they can move the puck and collect pucks and put the puck behind us. “

The pregame was filled with tributes for captain Nadia Mattivi, forwards Brooke Ersoy, Julia Nearis, Haylee Blinkhorn, Jesse DeVito, defender Alex Allan and goaltender Andrea Brandli as a part of their Senior Night. 

“Certainly, there was a lot of emotion there,” Durocher said. “There always is on senior night.”

Durocher was also honored in his final regular-season home game with his retirement coming at season’s end.

“I certainly get very proud to say that there’s been a lot of people touching base,” Durocher said. “I said to a lot of them in response that the people, the peers, and the student athletes, the coaches are the real rock stars in this process. We’re only as good as the people around us. I’ll think about it more down the road.”

The Huskies got on the board first, thanks to a power play goal. In a period that saw the teams combine for five penalties, freshman defender Brooke Disher’s high-sticking call gave Northeastern their second power play. Graduate forward Alina Mueller, who recorded a goal and an assist in Northeastern’s semifinal Beanpot win over BU, picked up her 19th goal of the season and third power play goal. Graduate forwards Maureen Murphy and Chloé Aurard picked up the assists. 

After a quiet first period, the two teams combined for four goals in the middle frame. Mueller started the period with her second goal of the game, assisted by Murphy and Aurard.

“I think it’s the fact that they all see the game very well,” Durocher said on the Huskies’ first line. “They’re strong on their skates and good skaters and they all see the game.”

Less than four minutes later, BU cut the lead in half with a power play goal of their own. Retrieving the puck behind the NU goal, Disher gave the puck to Nearis at the left circle, who found the captain at the center point. Mattivi’s one-timer found its way past senior goaltender Gwyneth Philips to make it 2-1.

“She’s had a wonderful career and is a highly skilled player who’s going to play some hockey beyond here,” Durocher said. “I liked the fact that was a power play goal, not just for her but for a whole group, because that is an area that I think we can get a goal or two and maybe be a deciding factor as we get toward playoff time.”

NU responded with two goals before the period ended. First, Murphy scored with assists from senior forward Katy Knoll and Mueller. Two minutes later, and with less than a second to go in the period, Mueller completed the hat trick with assists from Aurard and Murphy.

NU added a fifth goal with 23 seconds left in the game. Senior forward Kate Holmes netted her first of the season with assists from junior defender Abby Marohn and junior forward Molly Griffin.

The Terriers will close out their regular season with a game at Matthews Arena on Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.