Women’s Hockey Showdown: Terriers vs. Huskies
BU hosts Northeastern in clash of conference titans
Tonight’s women’s hockey game will be a battle of goaltenders as the 5th-ranked Terriers take on the 10th-ranked Huskies. The game marks the first meeting between the two conference rivals this season. Both teams are looking to extend hot streaks with strong defensive play and stingy goaltending. If the lamp is rarely lit this evening, it won’t be for lack of trying.
The Terriers boast a puck-stopping arsenal in Alissa Fromkin (CAS’13) and Kerrin Sperry (CAS’14). The duo has helped the Terriers achieve a 13-2-3 record, with a goals against average under 2.00. But they face formidable competition in Northeastern’s Florence Schelling, who played for the Swiss Olympic team in 2006 and 2010 and is coming off her third shutout of the season.
“It’s a big game,” says BU head coach Brian Durocher (SED’78). “Anytime we play one of the Beanpot teams, it’s a real good battle. It will be tough, but we hope to get a few pucks by Schelling.”
The Terriers are on a four-game winning streak, having rebounded against Boston College, beat Princeton in back-to-back games, and taken UConn on the road last Saturday, 4-0. BU has excelled in all facets of the game this season, with suffocating defensive play, an in-sync offense, and nearly unbeatable netminders.
“We have had consistent, good goaltending,” Durocher says, not revealing tonight’s starting goalie against Northeastern. “No matter who is playing, we will have a good, solid goaltender.”
Sperry, undefeated in 10 starts this season, was November’s Hockey East Co-Rookie of the Month. “We have the option of using Sperry, who’s been great this season,” says Durocher, “as well as Fromkin, who has more experience.”
The Terriers’ recent success is not because of goaltending alone. Marie-Philip Poulin (SED’14), Jenn Wakefield (CAS’12), and Tara Watchorn (CAS’12) have each recorded a point in 3 of the last 4 games, combining for 6 goals and 12 assists. “Our all-stars are lining up offensively,” says Durocher.
In the battle of top-ranked division rivals, the Terriers’ versatility could very well lead to victory.
BU plays Northeastern tonight, Tuesday, December 7, at 7 p.m., at the Case Center’s Walter Brown Arena, 285 Babcock St. Tickets are free with a sports pass at the Agganis Arena ticket office; $3 without a pass for students, faculty, or staff members; $5 for the general public. The game will be carried live on WTBU and on Gametracker.
John Fichera can be reached at jfichera@bu.edu.
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