Game Recaps, Women's Hockey

Terriers fall 4-1 to University of New Hampshire at Walter Brown Arena

by Belle Fraser Views: 142
Photo by Belle Fraser.

The Boston University women’s hockey team found a surge at the end of Friday night’s game against the University of New Hampshire, but ultimately fell 4-1 at Walter Brown Arena following a slower start. 

Despite the loss, the Terriers (9-8-2, 7-6-1 Hockey East) were lifted by the return of Callie Shanahan. The junior goaltender made her 2023-24 debut after missing the first half of the season due to a knee injury, and posted 12 saves against the Wildcats. 

“It actually gives me the chills to think about. To see what Callie has been going through with her rehab all year, the person that she has been, the teammate without being in the lineup. Now for her to have her shot has been really cool,” BU assistant coach Megan Myers said postgame. 

Freshman Mari Pietersen and graduate Alexa Matses had been rotating between the pipes while Shanahan was sidelined, but now with three healthy goaltenders, the plan may change. 

“We’re kind of just seeing how Callie does. First game back, see if we can bring her into the rhythm a little bit slower, but we have depth in goalies now,” Myers said.  

Brooke Hammer gave the Wildcats (10-10-1, 7-6-1 HE) a 1-0 lead at 6:16 of the first period. The junior forward was stationed in the crease and knocked in graduate defenseman Rae Breton’s initial shot from the left point while a scrum ensued in front of Shanahan. 

The Wildcats doubled their advantage off a wonky bounce as sophomore Maeve Kelly tried to clear the puck out of the defensive zone. Instead, the rubber hit senior forward Chavonne Truter’s skate before redirecting into the net off junior defenseman Maggie Hanzel’s leg. 

Photo by Belle Fraser.

“A couple of unlucky bounces to start the game, back-door plays against Callie,” Myers said. “If we just clean up the unlucky things that are happening and allowing them to happen, then we should be fine.” 

Miscommunication and spotty defensive coverage cost the Terriers in the middle frame.

UNH freshman forward Danika Botterill capitalized off a BU turnover down low and tapped the puck past Shanahan’s left pad for the 3-0 lift at 7:05. Graduate forward Tamar Thiérus dished it over to Botterill from the right circle after picking up the loose puck on the Terriers’ failed breakout. 

Freshman defenseman Sadie Makokis cashed in off a similar play three minutes later, left open in the slot while on the rush with graduate forward Mika Baptiste. Makokis earned inside positioning on senior defenseman Tamara Giaquinto and redirected the puck into an empty net to make it 4-0 Wildcats at 10:17. 

Luisa Welcke got the Terriers on the board at 13:10 of the final stanza, netting her fifth goal of the season and fourth goal in the last four games. Captain Nadia Mattivi sauced Welcke the puck off a cross-crease pass and the sophomore forward hit it in from the right doorstep to make it 4-1. 

“She’s been on fire…The transition is hard for any transfer and I think they’re really starting to pick it up – especially on the power play and PK,” Myers said of Welcke. “It’s been fun to watch, and she’s crushing it in practice too.” 

The Terriers will have the opportunity to get back in the win column Saturday afternoon when they face the University of Connecticut for a 3 p.m. puck drop on the road – their final game before the Beanpot begins on Tuesday. 

“I think we want to start the game tomorrow against UConn the way we ended [tonight],” Myers said. “We were in domination mode in the O-zone, changing with possession to end the game.”

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