Women’s Hockey: BU falls in close battle with No. 12 UConn

Saturday afternoon, Boston University women’s ice hockey (9-10-2, 7-8-1 HEA) lost to the University of Connecticut Huskies (14-6-2, 11-3-1 HEA), 5-2. Despite the score, the game for the most part was a close fought battle that saw the Terriers make a comeback from being two goals down. 

“Super happy with our resiliency today,” said assistant coach Megan Myers. “I liked how we battled back.” 

UConn started off the game taking control of the puck early. Their composure on the ice lived up to their No. 12 national ranking, and the Terriers wouldn’t get a chance on net until two minutes in from senior forward Lacey Martin. 

Ultimately, the Huskies struck first just over eight minutes into the period. Sophomore forward Kyla Josifovic got possession of the puck off the faceoff and passed it over to sophomore forward Brooke Campbell for the one timer. 

Connecticut would light the lamp again a couple minutes later, as graduate forward Coryn Tormola drove to the net with the puck and put it past fifth year goaltender Alexa Matses’s glove side. The Terriers were pushed back on their heels as the Huskies dominated play. 

The Terriers got the opportunity to get on the board soon after, as the Huskies’s Habisch was awarded a minor penalty for rougher. BU utilized the man advantage well, as sophomore forward Sydney Healey notched their first goal of the night. Healey tapped in the rebound of senior defender Tamara Giaquinto’s shot, as UConn’s junior goaltender Megan Warrener couldn’t get her glove on the puck fast enough. 

“We’ve been talking all week, all weekend about burying home rebounds net front,” said Myers. “Awesome for Syd to get one and really bury it down.”

While the Terriers seemed to ramp up their offensive efforts after their first goal, UConn continued their competitive gameplay and drew some penalties. Freshman forward Alex Law went to the box for slashing shortly after their goal, and junior forward Ani Fitzgerald went for tripping to put the Huskies on the power play for the start of the second period. 

BU came into the second period blazing, as they killed off the penalty with ease and even managed to get some chances down the other end of the ice. Sophomore forwards Lilli and Luisa Welcke crashed the net for two chances, but Warrener was there to make the stops. 

The Terriers’ offensive push would result in a game tying goal from Lilli Welcke at the left dot. Set up by Giaquinto, the goal put BU at even ground with twelve minutes left in the period. 

On the set up of the goal, Myers said “we’ve been working on o-zone a lot in the last two weeks, so I think it was cool to see it click. I think again it was a shot off the pass, so then that’s something of the skills we’ve been working on.”

While BU would head to the penalty kill again off a hooking call on Huntley, UConn would pick up their game again. While managing three shots on the man advantage, none would be on target. They’d be unsuccessful in capitalizing on another man advantage shortly after, putting their power play at 0-4 through two periods.

Unfortunately for BU, the Huskies couldn’t be held from scoring again. They’d take the lead once again just four minutes into the third, as Habisch found herself in front of a wide open net and tapped in the pass from Grimley. 

The Terriers would come close shortly after with a shot from sophomore forward Brooke Disher. Warrener bobbled the puck and Disher almost tapped in her own rebound, but was unsuccessful. This was just one of several chances BU had after the UConn goal in short succession as they found their offensive spark again. 

Despite the Terrier’s best efforts, it would be Connecticut potting the next goal to double their lead to 4-2. Graduate defender Claire Peterson scored in almost identical fashion to the Huskies’ previous goal, planting herself in front of the net and tapping in the pass from outside. 

UConn’s lead was solidified by an empty netter from Josifovic with 17 seconds left in the game. 

The Terriers now shift their focus to this Tuesday, where they’ll face off against Boston College in the Beanpot semifinals. Puck drop is set for 7p.m. at Harvard’s Bright-Landry Hockey Center.