BU women’s hockey wins first Hockey East title since 2015, beating Northeastern 3-2 in overtime

STORRS, Conn. — Upgraded.

That’s what head coach Tara Watchorn was saying about the Boston University women’s hockey program after the very first game of the 2024-25 season.

So after defeating Northeastern 3-2 in overtime at Toscano Family Ice Forum, claiming the program’s sixth Hockey East title and first since 2015, Watchorn kept it short and sweet.

“There was never any doubt,” she said.

Junior forward Sydney Healey played hero on Saturday afternoon, burying a rebound past NU freshman goalie Lisa Jönsson at 4:43 of the extra session for her team-high 15th goal.

“To win with this team, it just means so much more,” Healey said postgame. “That win means everything.”

The No. 13 Terriers (24-11-2, 18-7-2 Hockey East) withstood an early push from the Huskies (22-14-1, 15-11-1 HE), breaking out of the defensive zone effectively.

Graduate captain Tamara Giaquinto opened the scoring at 4:54 of the first period. Off a slick feed from junior forward Lilli Welcke, Giaquinto beat Jönsson for her ninth goal of the year.

The top forward line of Welcke, twin sister Luisa  and junior Riley Walsh hemmed in Northeastern, and Giaquinto picked the perfect moment to drive the net.

“That trust that we have, that belief that we can do it, that is probably one of the biggest things for us,” Healey said.

NU junior forward Lily Shannon knotted the scoreline at 12:59 of the opening stanza. She buried a rebound off a shot from freshman forward Èloïse Caron.

The Terriers sprinted out of the locker room for the second frame, dominating play for the majority of the period. The Huskies didn’t record a shot on goal for the first 16 minutes of the second.

“We just couldn’t find a way to get to the net,” Northeastern head coach Dave Flint said. “They took us outside our comfort zone.”

“Do whatever it takes to win, right?” Healey said. “Putting your body on the line is part of the game.”

The play of graduate forward Lindsay Bochna was the embodiment of Healey’s words. Using her body, speed, and skill, she gave the Huskies fits.

Bochna tracked back to keep graduate forward Jaden Bogden from giving Northeastern the lead late in the third period on a breakaway — she was everywhere.

“Lindsay’s been that kind of player for us all year,” Watchorn said of the Providence transfer. “It’s invaluable what she does.”

Senior defenseman Maggie Hanzel was called for hooking late in the second, and Shannon cashed in on the power play, giving Northeastern a 2-1 lead at 17:34. She one-timed the puck home off a cross-ice pass from sophomore forward Allie Lalonde.

Trailing entering the third period for the second straight game, BU, once again, was without a doubt, Healey said. “We were coming back from that.”

At 4:53 of the final period of regulation, junior forward Clara Yuhn’s 11th goal of the season tied the game. From atop the right circle, Yuhn fired a wrister off the left post and in.

Despite pushing hard for the winner after tying the game, throwing a slew of pucks on Jönsson, the game required overtime — a third straight for BU.

Senior netminder Callie Shanahan made 25 saves on Saturday, including several key stops early in the extra frame to keep the Terriers alive.

“We wouldn’t be where we are without Callie,” Healey said. “Making those really big saves gives us that motivation.”

That it did.

With the win, Watchorn became the first ever to win the Bertagna Trophy as a player — she won it twice in 2010 and 2012 — and a coach. She said winning as a coach is sweeter.

“Coaching is always what I’ve wanted to do,” Watchorn said. “It’s so much sweeter, so much more meaningful.”

Third time’s the charm for BU, as it failed to win a trophy in its first two attempts this season, first the Beanpot, and second the Hockey East regular season title.

“Obviously not the outcomes we wanted, but we just banked every experience,” Watchorn said. “It all paid off.”

The season continues for the Terriers, as a trip to the NCAA tournament looms, the first for the program in a decade. Their draw will be revealed on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. 

Until then, BU is celebrating its success. Healey was asked postgame if the trophy was heavier than she expected. The moment swallowed her.

“I genuinely do not remember holding it, I’m not gonna lie,” she said.