Cristina Romano
Despite BU women’s hockey’s 2-1 loss to Brown (1-0), signs of progress are beginning to show, even if the scoreboard didn’t reflect it. The Terriers are inching closer to the identity they’re working to build.
“I liked our environment today. I liked our professionalism,” head coach Tara Watchorn said. “I thought we had way more attention to detail, and it was just a little bit too late this week, but we’re looking to build off that going into next week.”
BU (0-5) is still searching for its first win after Brown struck early and maintained an offensive edge the Terriers couldn’t quite overcome.
“It’s a tough spot to be in,” assistant captain Sydney Healey said. “Obviously, every team wants to win. That’s obviously the goal.”
Starting the game, the line-ups looked very different compared to last week’s match-up against Colgate. Notably, sisters Lilli and Luisa Welcke were separated for the first time this season.
Luisa started on the fourth line alongside Lola Reid and Mia Vergilii, and Lilli played with assistant captain Sydney Healey and freshman Lexie Bertelsen.
Just 6:34 into the opening frame, BU went shorthanded after sophomore Tessa Demain was called for interference.
The Terriers not only killed off the penalty but also generated offensive pressure. Lilli Welcke broke through the neutral zone on a breakaway and fired a wrist shot at netminder Rory Edwards, who deflected it high—one of BU’s best scoring chances of the game.
Following Demain’s penalty, Keira Healey was whistled for holding, sending the penalty kill unit back to work again.
Fortunately for BU, the PK — arguably the team’s most consistent asset this season — delivered again, clearing multiple pucks and even creating chances on the other end.
The latter half of the first saw more offensive-zone time on Brown’s end.
With 1:19 remaining in the frame, the Bears were called for tripping, sending BU to the power play, where the Terriers failed to generate.
BU’s power play has been ice cold so far this year, going 0-for-18.
“Sometimes a personnel shift will give a spark,” Watchorn said of the power play. “I am not concerned about it in general, if we keep getting better.”
Opening the second frame, Brown turned a skater disadvantage into a breakaway opportunity, but goaltender Mari Pietersen stood tall to deny the Bears.
“I think a couple breakdowns led to unique types of shots, especially early,” Watchorn said of Pietersen, “and she really kept us in it, giving us confidence in front of her.”
Pietersen has split time in net with fellow goaltender Michelle Pasiechnyk. Pietersen currently holds a .907 save percentage.
In the second period, head coach Tara Watchorn shuffled the lines, reuniting the Welcke sisters on the top unit. The move sparked noticeable chemistry, giving BU a renewed sense of momentum.
That momentum quickly translated into results. Luisa Welcke was able to break BU’s stalemate tallying a goal off a rebound opportunity.
BU, however, struggled to maintain clean breakouts and sustained offensive zone time after taking the lead.
“We were trying to do some of our strategy and our concepts on our exits,” Watchorn said of the team’s struggles in the middle of the ice. “But it was making the appropriate read of when to use what strategy.”
As the period wore on, the Terriers began to lose defensive steam. At 14:50, Brown was called for cross-checking, giving BU a power play, but, again, the Terriers failed to generate quality chances.
After Brown’s successful kill, BU couldn’t reestablish offensive control. The Bears seized the momentum, with forward Olivia Fantino tying the game with just 34 seconds left in the frame.
Brown carried its momentum into the third, taking the lead just one minute into the period and never giving it back.
In a final push, BU pulled Pietersen for the extra attacker, but the man advantage failed to produce the equalizer.
With their five-game non-conference slate finished, the Terriers move into Hockey East competition next.
Though the result was not what BU wanted, Watchorn voiced that the team is making strides in the right direction.
“We were just changing. We were able to start our shifts in the offensive zone, and we’re able to put some more pressure on them,” Watchorn said.
Since Watchorn began coaching, the team has never been in a situation with the increased expectations they have now.
If the Terriers keep chipping away, the ice will break, and the wins will follow.
“We are getting better, gradually getting better,” Healey said.