Women’s Hockey: Hockey East top seed set to face off against UNH in weekend series

Featured image by Matthew Allen

By Abigail Stocker

The No. 12/13 Boston University Women’s Ice Hockey (20-9-1, 17-5-1 HE) is preparing for a home-and-home weekend series against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats (15-14-1, 11-12-0 HE) this weekend after completing a season sweep over Providence College last weekend.

“I think, just, the belief is continuing to grow,” Coach Tara Watchorn said regarding the team’s success. “We’re capable.”

The Terriers will travel to the Whittemore Center in Durham, NH, on Feb. 14 to face the Wildcats at 6 p.m, and then travel back to Boston to play at Walter Brown Arena at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15.

BU leads the series with a 38-21-6 all time record against UNH with the Terries riding their longest winning streak (14 games) from 2013 to 2017.

At home, BU holds a 21–10–2 record against the Wildcats and a 16–10–4 record against the Wildcats on the road.
The last time the teams faced off earlier in January of this year, UNH shut out the Terriers 2-0.

“I don’t think we are happy with how we performed last time we played them,” Watchorn said. “So, I think first and foremost, doing what we do well and giving us a chance to, you know, kind of put our strategy truly to the test.”

On the backend, goaltender Mari Pietersen was named the Hockey East Defender of the Week on Monday after earning a career-high 36-save performance against Providence College. This is Pietersen’s second award of the season, earning Player of the Week in January. She boasts a .920 save percentage and 1.83 GAA.

Pietersen set a career-high with 36 saves in goal last weekend while supporting BU’s comeback win against Providence.

“We’re a good hockey team, and we can find ways to win even when it’s not connecting… that was the biggest thing for us, against Providence.” Watchorn said.

Last weekend’s win made the Terriers the first team in Hockey East to reach 20 wins on the season.

BU is set to travel to New Hampshire on Friday, with puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m. The Terriers will return home on Saturday to face the Wildcats with puck drop set for 4 p.m. and streaming available on ESPN+.