Women’s Ice Hockey: Catamounts Deepen BU’s Funk, Dealing Terriers Fourth Loss In A Row

By Ethan Pott

Boston University Women’s Hockey (7-15-3, 5-9-2 HEA) fell to the University of Vermont Catamounts (12-12-4, 6-7-3 HEA) in the second half of a back-to-back series at Walter Brown Arena on Saturday.

The all-time series between the Hockey East rivals stands at 45-14-8 in BU’s favor. Saturday’s game marked the first time BU had dropped back-to-back games to Vermont since Jan. 25, 2014 — and the first time in program history it had done so at home.

Both teams saw chances in the opening frame. Although the Terriers won eight first-period faceoffs to the Catamounts’ five, Vermont outshot BU by a 12-5 margin.

Senior forward Sydney Healey got the Terriers on the board early, scoring just 20 seconds into the first period on BU’s first shot of the game to put her team up 1-0.

Healey, who also struck late in the third period the previous night, has been the Terriers’ top offensive producer this season. She leads the team in points, goals and assists (22P, 13G, 9A) and has scored in five consecutive games against Vermont.

Just past the halfway mark of the first period, Vermont struck back off an offensive-zone faceoff win. Catamount junior forward Stella Retrum, who posted a two-point game with a goal the previous night, beat Terrier graduate student goaltender Michelle Pasiechnyk to knot the score at 1-1.

Pasiechnyk saved 31 of 33 shots in the game. After allowing the early goal, Vermont freshman goaltender Zoe Cliche settled in and ultimately recorded 27 saves on 28 attempts.

BU improved its shooting in the middle frame, outshooting Vermont 13-7 in the period, but only the Catamounts found the back of the net. Momentum shifted when Terrier freshman defender Avery Supryka took a slashing penalty, sending Vermont to the power play.

The Terriers defended well for most of the disadvantage, but a bad pass in front of the BU net found Retrum’s stick. Retrum poked it under Pasiechnyk for her second goal of the game, putting the Catamounts ahead 2-1.

Vermont’s power-play unit continued to shine against the Terriers. Retrum’s tally was the Catamounts’ fourth power-play goal in six chances on the weekend.

Retrum, who played in her 100th collegiate game Saturday, leads Vermont with 19 points (10G, 9A) this season.

The third period was chaotic and penalty-filled, but Vermont read BU’s offense well and held strong defensively.

BU went on its first power play less than a minute into the third when Vermont freshman defender Sophia DeAnzeris was called for tripping.

The Terriers pressured the Catamounts, allowing Vermont to clear the puck only once. However, BU could not convert, as only two of its power-play shots reached the net and were turned away by Cliche.

The Catamounts went back on the power play when Terrier sophomore forward Kaileigh Quigg was sent to the box for body-checking. BU defended well and generated a shorthanded rush, which was ultimately denied. The Terriers’ penalty-kill unit escaped danger for the second time in six opportunities on the weekend.

Soon after Vermont’s power play expired, BU went up a skater as DeAnzeris took her second penalty of the game, this time for cross-checking.

The Terriers could not convert but soon found a golden chance when Catamount junior forward Rose-Marie Brochu was called for slashing Quigg on the hand. Quigg briefly left the ice but returned to play.

Less than 30 seconds into the ensuing power play, Vermont junior forward Kaylee Lewis committed a boarding penalty, giving BU a 5-on-3 advantage. The Catamounts’ defense turned away shot after shot, and the Terriers could not capitalize.

Vermont outshot BU 9-8 in the third period despite the Terriers earning four power-play opportunities and pulling Pasiechnyk in the final minutes. BU’s power-play unit went 0-for-4 on the day and 1-for-7 on the weekend.

Now riding a four-game losing streak, the Terriers will next travel to North Andover, Mass., to open a two-game set against the Merrimack Warriors beginning Friday, Jan. 30. Streaming will be available on ESPN+ for both games and on NESN for Saturday’s matchup.