Women’s Hockey: BU finishes off first-half strong with win over Providence
By Alexa Podalsky
Boston University Women’s Hockey (8-8-2, 6-6-1 HEA) entered their game against Providence College (6-12-1, 5-8-1 HEA) on Saturday without a win over the Friars since 2021. They recorded one shootout win and six losses in their last seven games and felt they needed a win to close the first half of their season, and did just that in a 5-1 decision at Walter Brown Arena.
“We definitely wanted this one. It was nice to get it on home ice,” coach Tara Watchorn said. This was the third and final matchup against the Friars this season, but the Terriers’ only win.
Both teams played aggressively to open their last game until the New Year. Sticks were flying and fallen players were sliding across the ice trying to use their full force to shoot the puck in the net.
BU pulled ahead two minutes into the game when freshman forward Ella Huntley came in from the left to assist sophomore Clara Yuhn. Yuhn fired the puck into the net to give Huntley her first career assist.
The Friars were given two power plays after sophomore Maeve Kelly and Yuhn got sent to the penalty box for interference and body checking. Yuhn leads the team with 13 penalty minutes.
BU killed the first penalty but sophomore forward Reichen Kirchmair scored a power-play goal to tie the game 1-1 going into the second period.
Senior forward Catherine Foulem was supported by the first line to give BU their second goal. She received the puck from freshman Alex Law to sneak the puck past two Friar defenders.
The Terriers’s successes kept on coming when they entered a power play after junior defender Lily Martinson received a penalty for holding. The period set them up for their third goal immediately after it ended.
Law hit the puck into the top right corner after receiving the puck from Yuhn. As BU slipped further into the lead, Providence got hit with more penalties.
Sophomore forward Brooke Disher was given a penalty for boarding on BU’s side of the ice. The Friars held a strong majority, but, as the seconds of the period diminished, the Terriers were able to pull the puck into center ice.
Senior forward Lindsay Bochna received two bodychecking penalties in the second period. The second penalty landed her a spot in the box to watch the start of the third period as Providence trailed 3-1.
BU’s game got sloppy through the third period as their discipline issue showed. The team’s penalty counter reached 58 penalties this season for a total of 119 minutes against Providence.
Disher and Kelly both received their second penalty of the game to leave only three Terriers on the ice. BU’s 87% penalty kill showed strong through all three minutes of the power play. Yuhn also recorded her second penalty for tripping almost one minute later.
The Terriers’s defense held strong and kept the puck on Providence’s side of the ice. Providence’s senior goalkeeper Mirelle Kingsley saved a close goal from Foulem, but couldn’t keep BU out of the net for long.
Sophomore forward Luisa Welcke took a hard hit that put Bochna in the box late in the second period. She brought BU’s lead to 4-1 forcing Kingsley out of the net.
Even with Providence’s extra player on the ice, the Terriers were able to record another goal. Senior forward and offensive captain Madison Cardaci slapped the puck into the net right off the faceoff.
“There’s a lot of talk about finishing the game and playing a full 60 minutes. So, that’s something we’re for sure working on,” Law said. “That’s something we did to the end, so I’m proud of that.”
BU left the ice with their first non-shootout win over the Friars since Oct. 31, 2021. The team enters their break period with an even record.
“The wins will come. That has always been the message,” Watchorn said. “As long as we’re focusing on getting better every day and growing, it’s all going to work out.”
The Terriers will return to the ice on Monday, Jan. 8 at 5 p.m. against the University of Maine Blackbears in Orono, ME.