The return to the newly-upgraded Walter Brown Arena has been circled on the calendar for the Boston University women’s hockey team since the renovations were announced.
On Saturday, the Terriers played like they couldn’t wait any longer, dismantling Holy Cross, 3-0. But it wasn’t just the excitement of returning to their home rink that was on the mind of graduate captain Tamara Giaquinto.
“The last game we did play in here was against Holy Cross, and is when we lost [in the Hockey East tournament],” she said postgame. “That too is a little bit of extra motivation.”
Obviously, the renovations were also reason to be excited for the coaches and players.
“You can’t explain the emotions when we first see everything,” Giaquinto said.
“To be able to be here with a great crowd, with the Dog Pound, the band, really special,” head coach Tara Watchorn said postgame.
1,403 lively fans flooded to Walter Brown on Saturday afternoon. The Terriers (16-8-1, 13-4-1 Hockey East) fed off that energy and dominated play from the drop of the puck.
BU was pressuring the Crusaders (7-15-3, 3-13-2 HE) early, sustaining offensive zone time. Sophomore forward Alex Law fed senior forward Christina Vote backdoor, and a shot from junior forward Luisa Welcke led to a slew of chances at net front, but nothing emerged for the Terriers early.
“I thought we moved the puck way better today,” Watchorn said after the Terriers outshot Holy Cross, 37-15.
But after senior captain Emma Min was sent off for interference at 14:37, BU opened the scoring on the power play at 15:16 of the first.
Senior blueliner Maggie Hanzel fired a pass to Giaquinto, who blasted a one-timer past junior goalie Brooke Loranger from above the left circle. It was Giaquinto’s sixth goal of the season.
Junior forward Clara Yuhn extended the Terrier lead at 17:32 of the opening frame. From behind the goal line, Law found Yuhn open at the top of the slot. Yuhn rifled a wrister over Loranger’s glove to give BU a 2-0 advantage. It was her eighth of the season and first since Nov. 7.
Five different players scored for the Terriers in their sweep of the Crusaders, which started with a 2-0 win in Worcester, Mass. on Friday night.
“It speaks to the depth we have on this team,” Giaquinto said.
Sophomore netminder Mari Pietersen was at peak form during Friday’s win, recording a 25-save shutout, the first of her collegiate career.
Watchorn elected to start Pietersen again on Saturday, and it paid off. She recorded her second consecutive shutout, stopping all 15 shots she faced.
“I’m so proud of Mari,” Giaquinto said. She’s definitely one of the hardest workers on this team, and she brings her all every single day.”
BU scored a second power-play goal at 11:21 of the second after senior HC forward Michela Lio was called for a high stick. Vote carried the puck into the offensive zone and dropped it to graduate forward Lindsay Bochna. Bochna beat Loranger with a wrister to give the Terriers a 3-0 lead.
Entering Saturday’s game, the Terriers were converting 18.6 percent of the time on the player advantage. On Saturday, BU potted two power-play goals on five attempts.
“They’re able to read off of other teams’ PKs,” Watchorn said. “You’re seeing that composure with the puck and their ability to shoot.”
On the penalty kill, the Terriers have been excellent all season. Entering Saturday, they ranked third nationally at 90.3 percent. The kill was tested against the Crusaders, but BU killed off all seven Holy Cross power plays.
After losing in the Beanpot final against Northeastern at TD Garden on Tuesday, the Terriers responded with two quality performances. Watchorn feels that her team has found its identity again after a rough four-game stretch.
“We’ve learned a lot,” she said. “I think you’re seeing us come back to play with a little bit more of our strong identity.”
“It was obviously hard for us,” Giaquinto said of Tuesday’s loss. “We really realized that there’s more than just that game.”
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