Women’s Hockey: Terriers win their fourth straight with 4-1 win over UVM

Featured image by Spirit Veron

By Hannah Connors

Boston University Women’s Ice Hockey (18-8-1, 15-4-1 HE) took down the University of Vermont Catamounts (6-20-2, 5-14-2 HE) 4-1 this Saturday at the Walter Brown Arena.

“The biggest thing was we were composed overall,” assistant coach Reagan Rust said of tonight’s win.

Throughout the first period, the Terriers dominated offensively but could not generate a goal-scoring opportunity until halfway through the frame.

Breaking out of the neutral zone, forward Kaileigh Quigg passed to Sydney Healey across the slot, and her initial shot hit the sidebar. As Vermont’s defense scrambled to clear the puck and goaltender Jane Gervais scrambled for it, a deflection off Healey’s stick resulted in the Terriers taking a 1-0 lead.

With a strong forecheck, the Terriers kept the puck out of the Vermont offensive zone for virtually the whole period.

To start the second frame, BU capitalized on offensive momentum from the previous period.

Five minutes in, the Catamounts drew a minor penalty for interference, resulting in the first power play of the match.

Unfortunately, this did not go as the Terriers planned. Vermont forward Lara Beicher tipped the puck out of defender Maggie Hanzel’s stick and gained possession. Coming out of the neutral zone on a breakaway, Beicher outpaced the Terriers, toe-dragging the puck in front of netminder Callie Shanahan, slipping a short-handed shot in net to tie the game.

Right as the first power play fizzled out, Vermont received two back-to-back penalties, giving the Terriers a two-player advantage.

Eager to gain the lead once more, BU didn’t take long to strike again. Just a minute into the powerplay, Clara Yuhn found Julia Shaunessy across the slot at the top of the circle. Ripping a one-timer, Shaunessy put the Terriers up 2-1 effectively ending the powerplay.

Defenders Julia Shaunessy and Tamara Giaquinto made significant offensive contributions for the Terriers, each recording five shots on goal throughout the game.

“They’re just so good at what they do,” Rust said of Shaunessy and Giaquinto. “I think they look to find open plays as much as possible.” 

With three minutes left in the frame, the Terriers drew a slashing penalty, leaving Vermont on the powerplay.

Relentless defensive slot coverage and dominance in the neutral zone allowed BU to kill off the penalty effectively. 

In theme with the rest of the period, the Catamounts received another penalty call for hooking, sending the Terriers’ into the last frame with a player advantage.

Although BU opened the third frame with a minute and a half left on the powerplay, they could not leverage their player advantage. 

Midway through the period, the Terriers gained their second penalty of the night for boarding.

Frustrated by the hit that caused the penalty, the Catamounts retaliated with a similar hit in their offensive end, resulting in a five-minute penalty for boarding.

After 30 seconds of 4-on-4 play, the Terriers began their power play. Shortly in, Maeve Carey passed from the top circle to Luisa Welcke in the slot. Welcke took a shot, and Gervais, unable to locate the puck behind her, tipped it into her own net with her skate.

“We are always talking about contact and stuff,” Healey said. “And I think physical play really came out in that game. We took control.”

As a last-ditch effort, the Catamounts pulled Gervais, who had two minutes remaining, for the extra attacker.

With one minute left, Kaileigh Quigg sent the puck toward the empty net, shooting just wide. However, Healey re-gained possession of the puck and scored a clean empty-netter.

“Being able to come back home and bury them at Wally B [Walter Brown Arena] was something special for sure,” Rust said.

BU will look for revenge against Northeastern on Tuesday, Feb. 7th, at Matthews Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m., with streaming available on ESPN+.