Women’s Hockey: Different opponent, same result for Terriers in loss to Providence
Featured image: Ian Katan
By Justin Davids
Looking to end their 2023 road schedule with a win, Boston University Women’s Hockey (6-8-2, 4-6-1 HE) loses to the Providence Friars (6-11-0, 4-7-1 HE) 4-3 at Schneider Arena.
“Similar message to last night, got to learn how to win,” said coach Tara Watchorn. “I’d like to see us keep our foot on the gas and just keep playing our game in the third period.”
Following a quiet first ten minutes of action, the Terriers got their first power-play opportunity of the contest. A few seconds after the man-advantage expired, BU senior defenseman Tamara Giaquinto buried a net-front rebound, making it 1-0 Terriers.
A minute after the first goal of the game, BU forward Luisa Welcke took a hooking penalty, giving the Friars their first man-advantage of the night. Terriers graduate goaltender Alexa Matses stood strong in net, keeping the lead at 1-0.
About four minutes after the infraction, BU captain Nadia Mattivi dances around Providence senior goaltender Mireille Kingsly to give the Terriers a 2-1 lead.
The first period was mainly dominated by the Terriers, generating high-quality chances and making smart decisions with the puck. BU needs to keep this play up if they want to tack on more goals.
Providence started off the second stanza with a bang. Friars freshman forward Aubrey Knapp sneaks the puck past Matses short-side to cut the lead down to one.
The Friars maintained intense pressure after the goal, earning another penalty. The Terriers, once more, stood firm, denying Providence the opportunity to equalize the game.
Even though the Friars weren’t able to capitalize on the man-advantage, they were able to obtain their third power-play opportunity of the night. However, during the infraction, Mattivi carried the puck into the offensive zone to feed BU sophomore defenseman Brooke Disher for a short-handed goal.
Both teams started to play more conservative after Disher’s tally, until BU freshman forward Alex Law added to the Terriers’ penalty minutes, giving the Friars their fourth power-play of the afternoon. 17 seconds later, Providence’s Knapp took a penalty of her own, ending the period with 4-on-4 action.
Six minutes into the final frame, the Terriers grabbed their fourth man-advantage opportunity. Nevertheless, they were unable to maintain consistent puck possession in the offensive zone, keeping the score at 3-1.
The undisciplined play would not stop there. Two minutes following the penalty, Providence took their fifth penalty of the game. The Terriers’s ongoing power-play struggles continued.
Senior forward Maddy Coene breathed life into the Friars by deflecting a puck past Matses in front of the net, narrowing the lead once again.
With just two minutes remaining in the final period, Providence graduate forward Grace Shirley battled hard in front of Matses, poking one past the netminder to tie the contest up at three.
A game, marked by chaos and penalties, required resolution in overtime. If no goals were scored during that period, a shootout ensued.
If you expected the period to conclude without another power-play, you were mistaken. The Terriers secured their fifth man-advantage opportunity, but Providence successfully defended against it, ultimately concluding the overtime period and leading to a shootout.
The goaltenders excelled in the shootout, but Kingsley had the final say, denying the Terriers the extra point. Providence staged a comeback in the game, overcoming deficits of 2-0 and 3-1. To alter the outcome of these crucial Hockey East contests, the Terriers must enhance their power-play performance.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to learn how to be professionals. Show up every weekend consistently, whether we’re getting the outcomes we want, but just learn how to take the good ones with us and keep going onto the next game.”
Boston University Women’s Hockey will look to get back into the win column next weekend, December 8th at 6PM against the Holy Cross Crusaders in the Turnpike Trophy. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+