Women’s Hockey: Shootout Win Sends Terriers To Friendship Series Final

By Jenny Chen

Boston University women’s hockey (4-11-3, 4-6-2 HEA) started the new year on a high note, edging the Quinnipiac Bobcats (14-5-2, 5-4-1 ECAC) in a shootout to advance to the Friendship Series championship game.

“Definitely wasn’t perfect, [but] that’s probably the most I’ve seen the group just be able to figure out things that were working for us,” BU Head Coach Tara Watchorn said.

The Bobcats controlled the opening stages from the first puck drop, forcing the Terriers into long defensive-zone shifts.

In the 11th minute of the first period, graduate forward Laurence Frenette broke the deadlock, racing down the left flank from the neutral zone and cutting unmarked into the crease to put Quinnipiac up 1-0.

For the rest of the first 20 minutes, BU struggled to sustain pressure in the offensive zone, finding its best looks instead on rushes and partial breakaways.

In the final minute of the period, senior defender Maeve Kelly was called for hooking, sending Quinnipiac to a power play that carried over into the second. The Bobcats closed the first with an 11-3 advantage in shots.

The second period began much like the first, even after the Terriers killed off Kelly’s penalty. Quinnipiac continued to hem BU in, keeping the puck in the offensive zone and forcing turnovers in front of junior goaltender Mari Pietersen.

Four minutes into the frame, sophomore forward Taylor Brueske forced a turnover off BU junior forward Neely Nicholson in the right circle and quickly snapped home a shot to double the Bobcats’ lead.

The Terriers did not register their first shot of the period until the sixth minute, when sophomore defender Kiera Healey put a puck on net.

As the frame wore on, BU began to settle in. The Terriers earned their second power play of the night in the ninth minute and, although they did not convert, they generated more shots and zone time.

Senior forward Sydney Healey sparked the comeback in the 12th minute, cutting the deficit in half when she buried a rebound just outside the Quinnipiac crease.

As BU grew into the game, the Terriers controlled more of the puck and chipped away at the shot disparity, spending longer stretches in the offensive zone.

The third period was more even, with Quinnipiac pushing to restore its two-goal cushion while BU hunted for the equalizer.

Healey delivered again in the 12th minute of the third, burying her second of the night to bring the Terriers level at 2-2.

“She’s timely, and she’s there and she’s able to finish,” Watchorn said.

Neither team could find the winner in regulation, sending the game to overtime.

Quinnipiac again controlled early, winning the opening draw of the extra frame. In the second minute, sophomore forward Kaileigh Quigg was called for hooking, but BU’s penalty kill remained perfect, surviving the 4-on-3 and finishing the night flawless shorthanded.

Pietersen stood tall through all five minutes of overtime, turning aside all five shots she faced to keep the Terriers alive.

With the score still tied, the game went to a shootout. Senior forward Lilli Welcke scored on her attempt, while Pietersen stopped all three Quinnipiac shooters to seal the win. She finished with 36 saves and a .947 save percentage and was named Player of the Game.

“We have our identity, and we care about the habits, but it’s about focusing on what’s controllable,” Watchorn said.

The Terriers will face the Harvard Crimson in the championship game, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. GMT (2 p.m. EST). The game will be available to stream on YouTube.