MADISON, Wis. — Even after a season-ending loss, Tara Watchorn, Julia Shaunessy and Lindsay Bochna couldn’t help but smile.
“Proud is an understatement,” Watchorn said postgame.
In its first trip to the NCAA tournament since 2015, the Boston University women’s hockey team fell to Clarkson, 3-1, in the regional semifinal at LaBahn Arena on Thursday night.
“I don’t think anyone expected that to be such a close game,” Shaunessy said. “Just so proud of the group.”
Thursday marked the final game in the Scarlet and White for Shaunessy, Bochna, and the rest of the Terriers’ seniors and graduates. They’ve left BU in a better place.
They lifted the Terriers to their first winning season since 2019-20, the most Hockey East points in a single season in program history, and the team’s first conference title in a decade.
They also gave Watchorn more feedback than she’s received “in my life,” she said, and they were integral to the foundation that was built over the past two seasons.
“So, so grateful for them,” Watchorn said.
The No. 9 Golden Knights (25-12-2, 13-8-1 ECAC) suffocated the No. 11 Terriers (24-12-2, 18-7-2 Hockey East) from the drop of the puck. The Clarkson forecheck gave BU fits; the Terriers, as a result, struggled to break out of their defensive zone.
Clarkson shut down plays effectively, and Watchorn said she didn’t feel like the Terriers had many clean zone entries, which is usually a strength of her team.
Graduate Clarkson forward Anne Cherkowski opened the scoring 5:09 into the first. Cherkowski carried the puck into the offensive zone and beat senior Callie Shanahan from the right circle.
“Their pace of play was a little faster than we’re used to,” Shaunessy said. “We were overcompensating, trying to let our feet do the work.”
Clarkson pushed its lead to 2-0 on the power play at 5:40 of the first. A backdoor tap-in by junior forward Rhea Hicks finished off a beautiful play.
The Golden Knights entered the contest converting 33 percent of their power play opportunities — the second-best mark in the nation. It only took them 16 seconds to cash in on the player advantage.
“We’re able to talk through plays and work through different options,” Cherkowski said.
The Terriers settled into the game in the second period, imposing their physical style of play on Clarkson. They tried to slow the game down, Shaunessy said.
“They made a push,” Clarkson head coach Matt Desrosiers said. “Winning some of those loose pucks started their transition, which led to them being able to get in our defensive zone.”
BU outshot the Golden Knights eight to four in the middle stanza and took some momentum into the third period.
As the Terriers searched to get on the board, Shanahan kept them in the game, making 27 saves in the loss.
“She’s been keeping us in so many games this season, and we’re so thankful to have her in between the pipes for us,” Bochna said.
Watchorn pulled Shanahan for an extra skater with just under 4:30 to play in regulation. The move paid off, as Bochna cleaned up a rebound at 15:59 to cut the Clarkson lead to 2-1.
Junior forward Sena Catterall found the back of the empty net at 19:25 to send Clarkson to the regional final against No. 1 Wisconsin.
As Shaunessy departs from a program that she spent the last five seasons with, she feels it’s back to where it should be. It’s bringing that “hockey school mentality back.”
Even though the outcome isn’t what she wanted, Thursday night was “one of the best hockey games I’ve ever been a part of,” Shaunessy said.
For Watchorn, everything comes back to pride.
“I couldn’t be more proud to represent BU on the national stage,” she said. “Bright things ahead.”
yes, overall, i think Clarkson was the better team, but our women hung in there.
definitely, this team was faster and more physical than last year’s edition
bright future; sensational coach
any idea/information on incoming recruits?