Women’s Hockey: Terriers best BC rivals in grudge match for their third straight win

Featured image by Spirit Veron

By Ryan Owens

The No. 15 Boston University Terriers (17-8-1, 14-4-1 HE) defeated their green line rivals, the No. 12 Boston College Eagles (17-9-1, 13-6-1 HE), on Friday night at Walter Brown Arena.

This win marked BU’s third straight following a sweep of Holy Cross last weekend, as well as a victory in the season series against the Eagles.

“I think our skills showed through,” coach Tara Watchorn said after the game. “We were able to get big goals when it mattered and a great goaltending performance and beat a pretty good opponent.”

The game began with a BC faceoff win, allowing them to generate quick momentum and pressure in the early seconds of the game. 

This momentum would quickly be stopped, as a turnover at the Eagles’ blue line nearly gave the Terriers a chance to score, but defensive stick work by BC prevented the potential shot.

Liv Haag nearly had a great opportunity for BU, but a stop and a quick turnover the other way gave the Eagles a two-on-one rush, with captain Gaby Roy rocketing the puck past goaltender Mari Pietersen and taking an early 1-0 lead.

BC almost had another goal after a battle for possession in the Terriers’ zone, with BU only being saved by the goalpost.

The next several minutes of play would go by largely without fanfare, until a turnover by the Eagles at their own blue line allowed Terrier Lilli Welcke to take the puck, barely beating BC netminder Grace Campbell as the puck trickled over the line to tie the game at 1-1.

“I think that we got off to a bit of a ‘running around the d-zone start,” alternate captain Maggie Hanzel said. “I think [Lilli’s goal] kind of let us, like settle in…then you can see we really found our game in the second period.”

The Eagles would nearly break the tie, having a breakaway opportunity but were stopped by Pietersen.

In the final minute of the opening period, BU would have a great chance of their own on a rush, but would not be able to find the back of the net before the first frame expired.

The second period would begin with each team getting several chances in the offensive end, but neither would be able to capitalize on these opportunities.

BC had a dangerous chance, which led to each team taking matching minor penalties to create four-on-four hockey. Freshman Kayleigh Quigg would capitalize with the open ice, taking a shot in the slot that would beat Campbell and give BU the 2-1 lead.

Pietersen would face several high-danger chances, stopping the puck with her mask and the pad in traffic. 

“I think the team’s playing confident in front of her,” Watchorn said when asked about the choice to start Pietersen, who has been the backstop for each of the team’s last three games. “You’re always looking at the goalie that’s giving you a chance to win.”

The Eagles would take another penalty, putting BU on the first powerplay of the night. Despite maintaining the offensive zone throughout the two minutes, the Terriers would fail to capitalize.

BU got another powerplay chance following several minutes of quiet hockey, only to take a penalty of their own just five seconds later and create another four-on-four window. Despite BU holding possession for most of this time, neither team would find the back of the net.

Forward Neely Nicholson would make a crucial shot block in traffic with under two minutes left in the period, allowing the Terriers to maintain possession and the lead as the teams headed to their locker rooms.

The final 20 minutes would begin with plenty of excitement, as a cross-crease stop by Pietersen would quickly transition to a net-front scrum at the other end of the ice.

Defender Maeve Kelly lost her stick in a puck battle, allowing the Eagles to establish themselves in the offensive zone. BU would wear out and slip up, allowing BC’s Kate Ham to find the back of the net and tie the game 2-2.
The Terriers would gain momentum off of a near-scoring opportunity, spending much of the next few minutes holding possession and keeping the puck in BC’s zone. 

This momentum would pay off, as a set play by the Terriers would lead a Luisa Welcke shot trickling behind Campbell, allowing Riley Walsh to tap it in and give BU a 3-2 lead just over halfway through the third.

A chance for the Eagles would nearly turn into a goal, as Pietersen lost track of the puck but luckily poked it out of the crease.

Both teams again took matching roughing penalties, resulting in much of the final minutes being spent once again four-on-four. BC would spend the better part of this time in the offensive zone but failed to score on a number of high-danger chances.

BU managed to avoid several scares in the final few minutes, holding onto their victory to defeat their rivals 3-2.

“I think we’re communicating better,” Watchorn said of her team compared to the start of the season. “The skill’s always been there, and then you kind of just see it all come together.”

The Terriers will look to maintain their winning ways at Walter Brown against the Vermont Wildcats (6-19-2, 5-13-2 HE) on Saturday at 4:00. The game will be available on ESPN+.