The Boston University women’s hockey team (2-2-1, 1-2-0 Hockey East) looks for redemption in this weekend’s home-and-home series against the Merrimack College Warriors (4-6-1, 1-4-1 HE) — the team that ended the Terriers’ 2022-23 season campaign.
On Feb. 22, BU fell in overtime by a score of 5-4 to the Warriors in the first round of the 2023 HE Tournament. The Terriers held the lead for the game’s first 30 minutes before letting Merrimack take over in the second half.
These were former head coach Brian Durocher’s final moments at the helm of the women’s program before making his retirement official. However, this season’s Terriers — led by first-year head coach Tara Watchorn — have already shown structural and mental improvements to position themselves for a better season ending.
BU is riding a two-game win streak heading into the weekend after securing a 4-3 victory over the University of Maine Black Bears on Saturday. The Terriers never trailed that game and led the Black Bears in shots on net by a 42-18 margin.
Senior defender Andi Calderone opened the scoring, notching her third-career goal, before senior forward Lacey Martin and sophomore forward Sydney Healey added a pair of tallies in the middle frame. The forwards lead BU’s offense with three goals each on the season.
Midway through the third period, sophomore forward Clara Yuhn scored the game-winner on the power play, and the Terriers were able to maintain the 4-3 lead until the final buzzer.
Freshman goaltender Mari Pietersen made 15 saves to secure her second collegiate win. The first-year has started in four of the team’s five games this season, holding a 2-1-1 record.
Last season’s Terriers averaged only 2.1 goals per game, so Saturday’s four goals — especially over a HE opponent — is already telling of the buy-in from this group early on. BU will need to keep that offense rolling if they want to be successful this weekend.
Five things to know about Merrimack ahead of Friday’s Puck Drop
- The Warriors are riding a five-game winless streak with a 0-4-1 record over their last five contests.
- Merrimack’s last win came in a 1-0 shutout over the then-No. 7 Northeastern University on Oct. 13.
- This season’s Warriors have struggled offensively, averaging only 1.7 goals per game.
- Graduate forward Mary Edmonds and redshirt fifth-year forward Celine Tedenby lead the offense with six points a piece.
- Sophomore goaltender Calli Hogarth has started in all but one one Merrimack’s 11 games so far this season, boasting a .903 save percentage and a 2.38 goals-against average.
BU and Merrimack will open the weekend series on Friday at 2 p.m. at Lawler Rink, followed by a 4 p.m. matchup at Walter Brown Arena on Saturday. The Boston Hockey Blog will have full coverage of the games, so be sure to follow along on Twitter (X) @BOShockeyblog and Instagram @boston.hockey.blog.
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