In 2-0 shutout loss to UNH, BU women's hockey falls victim to trap game ahead of Beanpot final

Yesterday at 04:04 PM

DURHAM, N.H. — The matchup between the semifinal round of the Beanpot and the championship game is often known as a trap game. The anticipation of TD Garden's bright lights can keep a team's focus from the opponent at hand. 

After the Boston University women's hockey team won a late-game thriller against Harvard in the tournament's semifinals last weekend, the prospect of taking on perennial powerhouse Northeastern in a championship game rematch would have any team counting down the days.

But standing in the Terriers' way before then — a one-game series against the middling University of New Hampshire at the Whittemore Center. 

"We know the Beanpot's around the corner, and for the most part, we're present," head coach Tara Watchorn said postgame. "We were here, but I just think we didn't have the mindset to be able to make adjustments and do it assertively. There was a lot of hesitation and not a lot of communication."

The trap game got the best of the Terriers (14-7-1, 11-4-1 Hockey East) as the team missed too many opportunities and ran out of defensive bailouts in the 2-0 shutout loss to the Wildcats (12-11-1, 8-9-0 HEA). It is the third time the team has been shutout this season, and the first since Oct. 11.

Both times had a quiet start to the game. The Terriers’ defense suffocated New Hampshire early, while BU struggled to find quality chances.

One defensive breakdown can shift a game, and it came at 7:45 of the first period. UNH's Brooke Hammer sat behind the Terriers' net and found linemate Kelly Harty streaking in. The junior's shot didn't convert, but it caused a scrum in front of the net. Wildcat Shea Verrier last touched the puck, causing it to ping pong toward the net and off goaltender Callie Shanahan's right leg pad.

A raw fish thrown on the ice by UNH fans marked the Wildcats' early 1-0 lead.

"Obviously, they have a good goalie in net," Watchorn said. "Once they got one on us, I think we just started hesitating."

The goal shifted momentum toward the Wildcats, who nearly opened the floodgates early. Just a minute later, forward Sara Boucher had a wide-open breakaway on Shanahan. Boucher made an impressive deke on the goaltender to earn the whole net. However, her backhand hit the far post and bounced out. 

Through the rest of the period and the start of the second, the Wildcats had several odd-man rushes and net-front scrambles that had Shanahan uncomfortable, but the senior held firm in net.

The early-game stalemate restarted midway through the second period, when the teams exchanged chances. The Wildcats had a power play at 7:54 but failed to convert. 

Shanahan kept the Terriers alive late in the second when forward Alyson Hush charged toward the net unabated. The goaltender made a crucial leg pad save, kicking the puck out to keep it a one-score game. 

BU's Riley Walsh followed it up with a hooking penalty in the final seconds of the middle period. 

The Terriers opened up the third with a short-handed look during a two-on-one rush with Maeve Kelly and Lilli Welcke. Welcke had the shot, but UNH goaltender Sedona Blair made an impressive stick save on BU's best opportunity of the game.

The save put a fire under the Wildcats who extended their lead right as the penalty expired. Shanahan made the initial save, sending the puck back out. However, Boucher collected the puck and skated across the crease, back-handing it off Shanahan's skate and in at 1:22 of the third. 

Facing a 2-0 deficit, BU needed goals, and forward Lindsay Bochna was given a golden opportunity, but she sent the puck wide of the open net. 

The Terriers increased the tempo in the waning minutes of the period, pulling Shanahan with just over four minutes remaining. Nothing came of the man advantage, and the Terriers fell for the second time in three games. 

"Too little, too late," Watchorn said. "Not good enough. Wasn't our brand of hockey, and we just couldn't self-correct enough."

BU will need to regroup ahead of its marquee matchup with Northeastern in the Beanpot championship Tuesday evening at TD Garden.

"They know what they need to do," Watchorn said. "They knew what the answers were. They have to find a way to be accountable to each other because it's not good enough just to show up."