Women’s Hockey: BU Shut Out to End 2022-23 Regular Season

By Michael Wax

Cover Photo Credit: Andrew Burke-Stevenson

Boston University Women’s Ice Hockey (11-19-3, 9-15-3 HE) finished their regular season with a 4-0 loss against the No. 5 Northeastern Huskies (29-2-1, 23-2-1 HE) on Saturday night.

“You have to tip the cap to Northeastern,” BU Head Coach Brian Durocher said. “They’ve built a wonderful run here of 5-6 years. This is a heck of a talented team. And while I think we did our best to compete the last two nights, you’re still talking about a multiple-goal difference in the game.”

Saturday night also marked the final regular-season game for Durocher. Before their own senior night ceremony, Northeastern took the time to honor BU’s seven seniors and the BU head coach.

“I might have taken a guess that they say something,” Durocher said. “The timing of my announcement left us with one hockey game on the road… Classy that they were able to say something and kept it very minimal, which I’m happy with.”

This game marked the sixth time BU was shut out in the 2022-23 regular season, the last two shutouts coming against Northeastern.

On the other end of the ice, graduate goaltender Andrea Brändli stopped 45-of-49 Northeastern shots, again giving BU a chance.

Northeastern took an early lead on the power play. After BU freshman defender Brooke Disher took her second penalty of the opening 10 minutes, Northeastern went to work.

Graduate forward Alina Mueller released an initial shot from the top of the zone that Brändli stopped. With the rebound loose and Brändli sprawled out, senior forward Katy Knoll tucked the puck past Brändli for her 18th goal of the year. Mueller and graduate forward Maureen Murphy picked up the assists. Murphy’s assist was the 100th of her collegiate career.

Though Northeastern led 1-0 on the scoreboard after one, the Terriers led on the shot counter 9-8.

NU extended their lead to 2-0 early in the period. After a failed clearance from BU graduate defender Alex Allan, junior defender Lily Yovetich kept the puck in the zone and sent a shot near the goal. Brändli once again saved the initial attempt, which graduate forward Mia Brown deflected, before junior forward Molly Griffin put the puck in the net for her second of the year. Yovetich and Brown picked up the assists.

BU had a significant opportunity to get one or both goals back as they had a 5-on-3 for 22 seconds, but failed to register a single shot on goal during that time. 

NU extended their lead to 3-0 on another power play opportunity. From the left circle, graduate defender Maude Poulin-Labelle sent a cross-ice pass to sophomore forward Skylar Irving. Irving’s wrist shot went off Brändli and popped into the air. Brown, waiting at the crease, took a few wacks before Brändli could get back in position to make it a three-goal game. Irving and Poulin-Labelle assisted her eighth of the year.

NU entered the second intermission with a 3-0 lead and led in shots on goal 34-14.

Northeastern kept up the pressure and got a fourth tally more than halfway through the frame. BU again had a tough breakout pass out of their zone, allowing freshman forward Lily Shannon to intercept the pass and dart between two defenders and in on Brändli. Brändli made the initial save, but the rebound was kicked out right to senior forward Peyton Anderson, who put the puck home for her ninth for the year.

Northeastern finished the game ahead 49-21 on the shot counter, with BU passing up several grade-A opportunities. 

“I think [our goal] will be not to be too picky or too selective,” Durocher said. “Most importantly, let’s not have three people or four people on the perimeter looking for another fancy play.”

The Terriers will begin their Hockey East playoffs in round one on Wednesday against Merrimack. 

I think of Merrimack first and foremost as a skating team,” Durocher said. “There may not be the off-the-charts, high-end offensive kids that we played this weekend, but they can score goals… It’s going to be another one of those games where a goal can change the complexion of the game.”

The game will take place at Walter Brown Arena, and puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.