BELFAST, Northern Ireland — When Tara Watchorn brought in Michelle Pasiechnyk as a transfer in August, the prevailing thought, at least externally, was that she would be Boston University women’s hockey’s primary option between the pipes.
Sure, Mari Pietersen had a solid sophomore season backing up Callie Shanahan, posting a .911 save percentage with a 2.07 goals against average.
But why else would Watchorn bring in the 2023-24 NCAA National Goaltender of the Year after a year-long absence, if not to be the primary option in net?
A split goaltending room to begin the season halted that notion momentarily. Yet, Pasiechnyk was still seen as the favorite to emerge once she found a groove.
Watchorn seemed to be leaning even further towards Pasiechnyk after Pietersen conceded four goals in less than 29 minutes at Northeastern on Nov. 1. She was pulled after allowing the fourth and did not feature in BU’s next four contests.
But when Watchorn gave Pietersen another shot, against Providence on Nov. 21, the junior took the opportunity and hasn’t looked back. She registered a 34-save performance in a 4-1 win.
Fast forward to the Friendship Series in Belfast, where Pietersen was named MVP of the tournament. The junior starred on Friday night, making 36 saves during regulation and overtime, followed by three more in the shootout as BU stunned No. 8 Quinnipiac with a 2-2 tie and shootout win in the tournament semifinal. In the final, she stopped 27 of 29 shots, backstopping the Terriers to a 3-2 win over Harvard.
“Once again, helped us find a way to win,” Watchorn said after Pietersen’s 36-save outing on Friday. “It’s the big saves, it’s the big moments, and I know the girls are really rallying around her as well.”
Pietersen has started seven consecutive games in net for BU. In those contests, she has posted a .949 save percentage and a 1.57 goals against average.
Watchorn was asked on Saturday whether she anticipated the goaltender room shaking out the way it has when she brought in Pasiechnyk.
“I was open-minded for anything. I feel grateful that we have two amazing goalies,” Watchorn responded.
BU’s head coach didn’t give either goaltender a long runway in the early stages, mainly due to a lack of wins. Following the Terriers’ 0-5 start to the year, she said, “If we start getting some wins here, we give the ability to each of them to earn a runway.”
But in the last seven games, BU is 3-1-3, with three shootout wins, following a 2-10 start. Pietersen is giving the Terriers chances to win, and Watchorn is rewarding her.
“From the day that we put Mari in at Providence, she’s been in it with the group, and she’s helping us, I say it every time, find ways to win,” said Watchorn on Saturday. “I think the players feel that in front of her.”
Quinnipiac thoroughly outplayed BU through 30 minutes of Friday’s contest, peppering 35 of the first 39 shot attempts and holding a 17-3 edge in shots on goal at one point. The 2-0 hole to climb out of could have become insurmountable.
In overtime, Pietersen came up clutch with multiple big saves as the Terriers killed off a 4-on-3 power play. With 30 seconds remaining, back at even strength, faced with a 1-on-0 breakaway against the nation’s second-leading goalscorer, Kahlen Lamarche, Pietersen forced her backhand wide of the net.
Her performance on Saturday wasn’t to the level of Friday. She got fortunate with a goaltender interference call in the first period which negated a Crimson goal set up by a rebound Pietersen sent right up the middle of the slot. She didn’t make the heroic saves of the night before, nor was she called on to do so. But ultimately, Pietersen made Harvard earn its two goals, including an unreal snipe from the top of the circle that she had no chance of saving. She gave the Terriers a chance.
It’s unclear how long Pietersen’s leash is at this time. Pasiechnyk is still a strong goaltender, who had the leg up prior to the most recent seven-game stretch. But as long as Pietersen continues to perform as she has, it is, and has been, her starting job to lose.
“She’s just in the moment. It’s not about getting a shutout, having the perfect game. It’s about how do we all, as a group, find a way to win,” said Watchorn. “And she’s playing well because of it.”