Women’s Hockey: Terriers lose second half of back-to-back, falling 3-2 to UVM

Featured image by Spirit Veron

By Abigail Stocker

No. 13 Boston University Women’s Ice Hockey (13-6-1, 11-3-1 HE) fell 3-2 to the University of Vermont Catamounts (5-16-2, 4-10-2 HE) in the second half of the back-to-back of their weekend series. 

“That was a fight, not a pretty one,” coach Tara Watchorn said post-game. “There’s a lot to learn about ourselves.”

Nineteen seconds into the opening frame, a set-up pass from Lindsay Bochna and Lilli Welcke found Sydney Healey in the slot, beating UVM goaltender Sydney Correa on the backhand.

The Catamounts found a quick equalizer as Oona Havana threw a shot deep into the net, beating Mari Pietersen and leaving the teams stalemated at 1-1. 

Not long after, Keira Healey found a wide-open Maggie Hanzel at the right circle on the power play. Hanzel fired off a top-shelf goal on the man advantage, putting the Terriers back in a 2-1 lead.

The Catamounts held an aggressive stance in the second period, holding onto their possession of the puck. 

Just under halfway through the middle frame, UVM evened the score again, as Lara Beecher found the back of the net with a deflection, bringing the score to 2-2. 

BU had multiple chances at the crease with the clock winding down but could not capitalize going into the third. 

Both teams entered the final frame aggressively, as each side was looking for the equalizer. 

With just over five minutes remaining in the third, Kyla Bent fired a shot from the point, putting the Catamounts in the lead for the first time. 

Pietersen was pulled for the extra attacker as a last-ditch effort, but the Terriers could not find any cohesion, finishing the game with a 3-2 loss.

“There’s always going to be things that you need to grow from,” Watchorn said. “It’s about realizing those moments that you need to hit the reset button and you need to look inward and you need to say, ‘Okay, where are we?’ Because if you don’t have your foundation, then you can’t keep getting better every game.”

Despite the loss, Watchorn continues to trust the team’s foundation. 

“We’re gonna lean on the players,” Watchorn said. “We’re gonna lean on our leadership because we know that they’ve been doing a great job.”

BU will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon as they take on Harvard University in the semifinal round of the 46th Dunkin’ Women’s Beanpot at Matthews Arena. Puck drop is set for 4:30 p.m. ET, with streaming available on ESPN+.