Women’s Hockey: Terriers look to bounce back in home-and-home series against Northeastern

Featured image by Spirit Veron

By Stevie Potter

After a tough test early in the season against the No. 2 Minnesota Golden Gophers, the Boston University Women’s Ice Hockey team (1-2-0, 1-0-0 HEA) returns to Boston to face off against its cross-town rivals, the Northeastern Huskies (2-2-0, 0-0-0 HEA).

BU lost both games played in Minneapolis but nonetheless stood tall against the highly-ranked Gophers.

The Terriers held Minnesota to a one-goal game in their matchup on Friday. Goaltender Callie Shanahan stopped 40 shots, allowing just one power-play goal with 1:20 remaining in the game.

Sunday’s game saw Riley Walsh’s first goal in scarlet and white, but the Terriers ultimately fell 5-2 in their final game against the Gophers.

Now that they’re back on the East Coast, the Terriers will take on one of their toughest opponents: Hockey East rivals the No. 12/13 Huskies. BU has struggled against Northeastern in recent years and is currently in the midst of its longest losing streak to the Huskies at 11 games.

Historically, the relationship between these two programs has been more balanced, but Northeastern still has a slight edge over BU, boasting a 34-32-9 record over the Terriers.

For BU to end up as Boston’s top dog following this weekend’s home and home schedule, they’ll have to rely on production from rookies and veterans alike.

Freshman Lola Reid currently leads the Terrier squad in points with four (1 G, 3 A) in just two games. Just behind her at three points each in as many games are the veterans: captain Tamara Giaquinto and Lilli Welcke.

The Huskies have no shortage of depth either, with their top two producers being Skyler Irving and freshman Eloise Caron, who have six and five points in four games respectively. BU will have to make sure to shut them down if they want to earn their first win against the Huskies since 2021.

Friday’s game will take place at 7 p.m. at Northeastern’s Matthews Arena, and Saturday’s matinee matchup will occur at home for the Terriers in Agganis Arena at 3 p.m. Both games will be available to stream on ESPN +.