Women’s Hockey: Healey Breaks Records In Terrier Sweep
Featured Image by Jenny Chen
By Ethan Pott
Boston University Women’s Ice Hockey (9-15-3, 7-9-2 HEA) swept the Merrimack Warriors (5-20-3, 2-15-1 HEA), claiming sole possession of fifth place in Hockey East standings.
“It’s not easy to beat any team twice, so I’m proud of the growth and the strides we made this week,” BU Head Coach Tara Watchorn said.
Merrimack outshot BU 28-4 and won 26 of 49 faceoffs but went 0-for-2 on the power play. BU’s penalty kill allowed one goal on its lone two-minute disadvantage.
Senior forward Sydney Healey starred with two goals, tying her career high of 15 goals and breaking her points record at 24. Healey leads the Terriers with 15 goals, nine assists and 24 points.
“It takes a team to hit those points, and I’m working well with my line,” Healey said.
Healey opened the scoring at the five-minute mark, tapping her own rebound past sophomore goaltender Adreanna Doucette to tie her career-high points mark at 23.
Freshman forward Kerttu Lehmus tied it 1-1 in the 12th minute with her sixth goal, beating junior goaltender Mari Pietersen.
Dueling penalties — BU junior defender Ella Belfry for boarding, Merrimack sophomore forward Mady Cipolla for holding — led to nearly two minutes of 4-on-4 play.
Junior forward Greta Henderson and freshman forward Lexie Bertelsen connected early in the second for a 2-1 BU lead, Bertelsen’s third goal.
Pietersen’s sprawling save denied a game-tying chance in the third. Healey added a power-play goal midway through the frame for a 3-1 lead.
“I saw the lane, and Maeve [Carey] set up the perfect one-timer shot,” Healey said.
BU killed a late hooking call on freshman forward Anežka Čabelová. Merrimack pulled Doucette, but BU held on despite a late boarding penalty on sophomore forward Kaileigh Quigg, reduced to a minor.
The Terriers have won six of their last 10 games. They visit Vermont on Feb. 5. Streaming is available on ESPN+.
“We had an awesome weekend, and we’re talking through it,” Watchorn said. “How can we make it better? I’ll give kudos to the players for having open minds and looking to get better.”