Women’s Hockey: Terriers Become Belpot Champions

By Jenny Chen

Boston University women’s hockey (5-11-3, 4-6-2 HEA) powered past the Harvard Crimson (8-7-1, 4-5-1 ECAC) 3-2 to claim the championship of the first-ever women’s Friendship Series and lift the Belpot trophy.

“It’s great to string together six great periods of hockey and really start off the year on a great note,” alternate captain and junior forward Neely Nicholson said.

From almost the opening puck drop, the Terriers looked comfortable dictating play, forcing Harvard into extended spells in its own zone.

When the Crimson did gain possession, BU’s defense held firm, breaking up plays with active sticks and winning battles along the boards.

Although the Terriers peppered Harvard with shots, they did not break through until the 18th minute of the first period, when senior forward Riley Walsh crashed the back post and redirected a pass from freshman forward Lexie Bertelsen to open the scoring.

Harvard appeared to tie the game less than a minute later, but the goal was successfully challenged for goaltender interference and waved off. BU finished the opening frame with a 13-7 edge in shots.

The second period began on more even footing, with both teams trading chances.

This time it was the Crimson who struck first, as freshman forward Carla McSweeney cleaned up a rebound in front four minutes into the frame to level the score. The Terriers challenged again for goaltender interference, but the goal stood.

Senior forward Lilli Welcke provided an immediate answer, restoring BU’s lead just 36 seconds later with a backdoor finish.

As in the first period, the Terriers carried more of the play, generating the more consistent offensive pressure.

Harvard earned the first power play of the game when senior forward Clara Yuhn was called for hooking in the 16th minute of the second, but BU’s penalty kill came up with another stop. By the end of the frame, however, the Crimson had flipped the shot count to 20-19 in their favor.

Harvard came out of the second intermission intent on tying the game and did so just over a minute into the third, knotting the score at 2-2.

Chasing a winner, the teams then traded power plays. The Terriers went to their first advantage of the afternoon and generated several dangerous looks but could not convert.

BU finally broke through again in the 13th minute. Nicholson stepped into a shot from distance and beat the Harvard goaltender for what proved to be the game-winning goal.

“I had a great pass from Maeve [Kelly] — we work on that play a lot in practice and talk about it, so I kind of just shot it,” Nicholson said.

For the third time on the day, the Crimson pushed hard for an equalizer, matching the Terriers shot for shot in the final period.

With 73 seconds left in regulation, Harvard pulled its goaltender for an extra attacker, and with 40 seconds remaining the Crimson went up 6-on-4 when Walsh was called for a body check.

Even with two extra skaters on the ice, junior goaltender Mari Pietersen and the BU penalty killers blocked lanes, cleared rebounds and turned aside every chance, sealing the win and the Belpot.

Nicholson was named BU’s Player of the Game for her game-winning tally, while Pietersen earned Player of the Tournament honors after recording 63 saves and a .940 save percentage over the two contests.

“From the day that we put [Pietersen] in at Providence, she’s been in it with the group, and she’s helping us, [and] she’s just in the moment,” BU Head Coach Tara Watchorn said.

The Terriers return to Hockey East play on Jan. 10, when they face the University of New Hampshire Wildcats. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m., with streaming available on ESPN+.