Women’s Hockey: BU Looks to Bounce Back in Home-and-Home Series Against Providence

By Marianne Zemmes

Boston University Women’s Ice Hockey (2-10-0, 2-5-0 HE) will face Providence College Friars (4-9-1, 2-3-1 HE) in a home-and-home series this weekend.

“It was very easy to go through film and find opportunities where the visuals were what we want, the play was what we wanted, and now we can talk about scoring goals,” BU Head Coach Tara Watchorn said. “We’re collaborating on how to make it better because it’s already good.”

BU dropped its weekend series against Boston College, losing 5-2 at BC on Thursday and 3-2 at Agganis Arena on Friday.

Sophomores Kaileigh Quigg and Lola Reid scored at Boston College, while seniors Clara Yuhn and Sydney Healey scored in the home contest. Reid’s goal was her first of the season and came on the power play. Freshman Lexie Bertelsen led BU in points on Friday with two assists.

Graduate goaltender Michelle Pasiechnyk made a combined 47 saves over the two games. Friday’s crowd of 3,965 set a home and Hockey East attendance record, besting the previous mark of 2,866 set by BU last season.

Eleven Terriers have scored a goal this season, while 14 have earned at least one assist. BU leads Hockey East with a .559 faceoff win percentage, which ranks eighth in the nation.

Providence is 4-9-1 overall and 2-3-1 in Hockey East play. The Friars are coming off losses to Princeton and have yet to win back-to-back games this season.

“They’re making each other better this week more than I’ve seen in a long time,” Watchorn said. “We’re working on scoring and creating off transition on the forecheck, and Providence will also play aggressively in a similar style. So I think we’re making each other better this week, and that’s getting us ready.”

Goaltender Hope Walinski leads Hockey East in games played (14). Forward Reichen Kirchmair tops the conference in goals (8) and ranks sixth in points (12).

BU holds a 35-20-6 all-time record against Providence. In 2024-25, BU swept the series against the Friars. The Terriers are on a four-game winning streak against Providence dating back to Dec. 9, 2023.

Watchorn discussed the team’s process of building habits and gaining offensive-zone control.

“You stay true to it and commit to it, and all of a sudden, the norms aren’t habits anymore,” she said. “You’re not thinking about them, and now you’re thinking about scoring.”

Senior forward Sydney Healey leads BU in points (11), goals (6) and assists (5). Her two game-winning goals are second in the league and 14th nationally. Senior forward Lilli Welcke paces BU with 152 faceoff wins, ranking second in Hockey East and 13th nationally.

“The leaders have been so humble and so proud every day to try to help this group,” Watchorn said. “Clara has been a rock star, and you’re seeing it in her game.”

The Terriers host the Friars at Walter Brown Arena for a 6 p.m. puck drop on Friday, Nov. 21, before traveling to Schneider Arena for a 3 p.m. game on Saturday, Nov. 22. Both games will stream on ESPN+.