BU has fallen far since it faced Boston College and Providence in consecutive weekends back in November.
After starting the season 2-10, the Terriers built momentum off the type of play they exhibited against BC and strung together over a month of strong performances. But since BU’s Beanpot loss, the team has been reeling.
The Terriers have failed to string together 60 minutes of play as of late.
“The goal to help that is to simplify,” head coach Tara Watchorn said. “Simplify, clarify and get everyone working on the same page under a simple game plan.”
The situation is dire, with a split-series against PC (at Walter Brown Arena on Friday) and BC (at Conte Forum on Saturday) being the Terriers’ last weekend of regular-season play. They have now dropped four consecutive games. Yes, they played two top teams during that stretch, No. 5 Northeastern and No. 6, but BU didn’t put up convincing performances.
The Terriers generated, but Northeastern’s depth and finishing abilities proved to be too much. The Huskies scored four even-strength goals outside their top line — Lily Shannon, Stryker Zablocki and Éloïse Caron. BU’s early forecheck was encouraging, showing a similar prowess as during its performance against the Huskies in the Beanpot semifinal.
As for BU’s showing against UConn, it was far less promising. The Terriers generated no offense. Even though the scoreline read 2-0 at the end of the matchup, with one goal the Huskies scored being an empty netter.
Goaltender Michelle Pasiechnyk shined between the pipes, making 34 saves.
“She’s having a good run here, making it pretty hard to score,” Watchorn said.
BU’s defense held up reasonably well despite playing with only five defenders, and at times just four due to a major penalty taken. Still, BU struggled to generate offense, going more than 20 minutes without a shot on goal and producing almost no high-danger chances.
But that imbalance is exactly what Watchorn wants to address this weekend.
“We’ll look to just keep making sure that the way that we change, the way that we forecheck, and the way that we defend is consistent and tough to play against,” Watchorn said.
The Welckes return from the Olympics
Luisa and Lilli Welcke returned to campus on Wednesday after representing Team Germany at the Olympics.
The twins reached the quarterfinals before falling to Canada, with Lilli recording one assist and Luisa adding three points of her own. Their return to Comm. Ave is highly anticipated, as the Terriers have been skating with a short bench since the pair departed following the Beanpot at the end of January.
Though Watchorn did not confirm they would play this weekend, she said, “It is senior night, so it would be tough to not at least put them in a jersey.”
Scouting the Friars and the Eagles
Boston College is currently tied with Holy Cross in the Hockey East standings, sitting third in the league with 36 points through 22 games played. Freshman forward Ava Thomas leads the Eagles with 18 goals and 24 assists. She’s emerged as one of the top freshmen in the country. Her speed and scoring touch consistently drive BC’s offense.
The Eagles thrive on quick-strike opportunities, often capitalizing on opponents’ turnovers into dangerous rushes — the same formula that helped them take control of their series against BU earlier this season. Their position in the standings ensures they will comfortably bypass the first round of the Hockey East tournament.
Providence, meanwhile, finds itself in a far more precarious position. The Friars are tied with BU at 25 points through 22 games, holding the eighth and ninth spots in the league.
A win for either team would secure home ice advantage in the opening round of the Hockey East tournament.
“They are definitely different teams,” Watchorn said. “I think Providence plays really assertive defensively. It takes away a lot of time and space. With BC is. You’re gonna see more of that assertiveness within that transition moment.”