BU women’s hockey earns its first victory, defeating UNH, 4-2, in the Hockey East opener

The Boston University women’s hockey team finally put together the full three-period performance it had been looking for. 

It resulted in BU’s first win of the season, a 4-2 victory over New Hampshire, in the Hockey East opener at Walter Brown Arena on Friday night. 

The No. 15 Terriers (1-5, 1-0 Hockey East) generated a season-high 40 shots on net and created numerous high-end scoring opportunities throughout the 60 minutes. BU’s previous high mark was 27, recorded in the series finale against Minnesota. 

“I felt like we could’ve had more,” said assistant coach Megan Myers. 

At the second TV timeout, 10:37 into the first period, BU’s shots on goal tally sat at just three. Myers asked her forward group, “You guys feel like there’s more?” The forwards resoundingly said “Yeah,” and proceeded to put the puck on net 37 more times. 

“It’s [a] huge step for our team,” said Myers, who runs BU’s offense 

During head coach Tara Watchorn’s weekly Wednesday media call, she stated that the approach for facing UNH and junior goaltender Sedona Blair, who sported a .925 career save percentage, needed to involve “creating quality scoring chances” and “getting more time in the o-zone.” The Terriers did both, peppering Blair with shots and hemming the Wildcats into their defensive zone. 

“We did a really good job of gaining more quality scoring chances and being able to bury them,” Myers said. 

Sophomore forward Kaileigh Quigg opened the scoring at 17:58 of the first period, netting an unassisted shorthanded goal to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead. Quigg skated from her defensive zone, gained a step on junior defender Sadie Makokis, and unleashed a left circle wrister that trickled through the five-hole of Blair.

Freshman forward Kristen Hartman answered back for the Wildcats 58 seconds later, scoring with two seconds left on the UNH power play. 

After UNH entered the offensive zone, multiple bodies hit the ice. Senior forward Alyson Hush collected the loose puck and found Hartman waiting on the doorstep. Hartman calmly passed the puck past BU goaltender Michelle Pasiechnyk’s outstretched pads. 

Hush provided UNH with a 2-1 lead at 13:58 of the second period, after the Terriers got caught in transition during 4-on-4 play. Hush collected a pass at the blue line and skated into a 1-on-0 breakaway, deking Pasiechnyk and lifting her shot past the Ottawa native. 

“I think we responded really well to getting scored on,” said senior captain Maeve Carey. 

Freshman defender Lucy Thiessen found the equalizer 41 seconds later, netting a power play goal in the 19 seconds that remained after a 1:41 stretch of 4-on-4 play. 

Senior forward Sydney Healey skated into the offensive zone for a 2-on-1 with Lexie Bertelsen, finding the freshman forward at the left post. Bertelsen’s shot deflected off the pads of Blair and right into the path of a trailing Thiessen, who backhanded the puck into the net for her first collegiate goal. 

Myers stated that the biggest offensive emphasis in practice this week was getting rebounds. Thiessen’s rebound provided BU’s first power play goal of the season, after an 0-for-20 start. 

“We didn’t plan Lucy, our defenseman, to be netfront on the power play to score a rebound goal,” Myers quipped. “But I think that just comes with the habit of her doing it every day, and it worked out.”

Healey netted a wrister from the slot to restore the Terrier advantage at 3:53 of the third period. Senior forward Luisa Welcke found Healey on a pass from the goal line, and Healey fired her shot past Blair. 

UNH, however, didn’t go quietly, firing 15 shots on net in the final frame. Pasiechnyk saved all of them. Her biggest save came against junior defender Lucie Legro at 8:05 of the third period, who was left all alone in the slot. Pasiechnyk slid over in time for the puck to hit the Boston wordmark across her chest.

“Michelle did a great job,” said Myers. “She’s so even keel that I think it gave us confidence in front of her.”

Healey iced the contest at 19:34 of the third period, scoring a shorthanded empty net goal from her own defensive zone. 

She registered a three-point night (2 goals, 1 assist) and fired seven shots on net, pacing the BU offense. 

“Anytime she had the puck, she’s weaving through players, getting us the red line, getting us into the offensive zone,” Myers said. “It’s been coming for a long time.” 

With the victory, the Terriers notched their first home victory over UNH since 2021, snapping a five-game winless home stretch against the Wildcats. 

And with a win under their belts, BU isn’t lacking confidence heading into a series against rival No. 12 Northeastern next weekend. 

“We just stuck to our game plan,” said Carey. “If we just continue to do that, and continue to push the pace in practice… it’s going to come every weekend.”