Women’s Hockey: BU falls to No. 14 Northeastern in record-breaking Beanpot final

If you build it, they will come.

10,633 people gathered in attendance for the 2024 Women’s Beanpot Final, as Boston University women’s hockey (11-10-3, 9-8-1 HE) fell to the Northeastern University Huskies (16-9-1, 9-7-1 HE) 2-1 in overtime at TD Garden on Tuesday night.

“We proved that we can compete on any stage against any opponent,” said coach Tara Watchorn after the game.

The game began as a back and forth battle between the two teams, both struggling to create or maintain any offense. Northeastern got the first shot on net from Jules Constantinople but was stopped. 

Both teams would get physical early on, including some plays that may have warranted penalties, according to the crowd’s groans of disapproval. The first penalty came just over three minutes into the game, when Northeastern’s Molly Griffin headed to the box for interference. 

While BU wasn’t able to capitalize on the man advantage, they had several close chances that put the Huskies back on their heels.

The first period came to be a duel between the goaltenders, as both Gwyneth Philips and Callie Shanahan stood strong in front of their nets in the first. Shanahan made her return to BU’s lineup just under two weeks ago and has seemingly shaken off any rust. 

Shanahan would make several impressive saves herself this period, as the Terriers made several costly mistakes in their own zone. 

This was only Shanahan’s fourth game back in the lineup after missing the first portion of the season due to an off-season injury. On her return, Watchorn said “[w]e threw her right into the mix in high pressure situations and she didn’t disappoint… we had no doubt she was going to do well for us.”

The second started off chippy and intense, as the Huskies would get their first look on net just 30 seconds in by Skylar Irving. They got another soon after by Lalonde, and the Terriers just couldn’t manage to keep it out of their end. Mia Langlois would come so close as hitting a post, all within the first 2 minutes of play. 

BU would eventually get a handle on their play, and Clara Yuhn would spur them ahead with a big hit to set the tone for the team. However, Northeastern’s squad expectedly took issue with Yuhn’s hit. They came back with a fire of their own, and with the speed on their roster they were able to fly down the ice easily and get more looks on net. 

The Huskies soon got more physical in front of the net. They commanded the puck after the penalty finished, as BU was stressed and unable to pull together many sustained efforts on offense.

Northeastern came away with the first goal. Irving stripped  Catherine Foulem of the puck in the Terriers’ end of the ice, dangled in front of the net and sent it up and over Shanahan’s left shoulder.

It wasn’t until the third that NU started to pull away, as after the first two periods BU led the shot count 19-17. The Huskies kept their momentum from the goal heading into the third period. They fired shot after shot on Shanahan.

BU managed to get some zone time in Northeastern’s end, but no offensive efforts could be made. The Huskies defense suffocated BU. They wouldn’t get their first shot of the period until over seven minutes in, coming from Andi Calderone. Philips made an easy save on the attempt.

The third period became another battle of breakouts and playing on the rush, as neither team stayed in their end for long. BU got their best chance in a while from Nadia Mattivi, a shot right down the middle in front of a screened Philips, but the reigning National Goaltender of the Year stood tall yet again. The pressure would be on as BU opted for the empty net with over two minutes left to play. 

BU would be rewarded for taking the chance, as Foulem netted the equalizer with 58 seconds left to play. The pass came across from Sydney Healey, and Foulem got the puck just wide of Philips’s pads. Despite some rushes either way in the last minute, after 60 minutes the game was knotted up.

“It was honestly an unbelievable pass from Syd,” said Foulem. “Everyone was on one side and I was just left alone so I capitalized, but it was obviously a great play.”

Overtime was a quick affair, as it only lasted 27 seconds. Katy Knoll found Irving wide open in front of a defenseless Shanahan to bury it and give the Huskies the win.

BU now shifts their focus to a home-and-home this weekend against their rival down the Pike, Holy Cross. Friday’s game will take place at Walter Brown Arena with puck drop set from 6p.m. Saturday’s game will be in Worcester at 7p.m. with both available for streaming on ESPN+.