PREVIEW: BU women's hockey looks to distance itself with home-and-home against Providence
11/01/2024 09:34 AM
Off to its best nine-game start since 2014, the Boston University women's hockey team is first in Hockey East and has won five straight games. Fresh off a home sweep of Syracuse University, the Terriers (6-3, 4-1 HE) are set for two games against Providence College.
Still unranked in the USCHO Women's Poll, BU received 10 votes in this week's poll. The Friars sit right behind the Terriers, receiving nine votes.
"I'm not surprised," head coach Tara Watchorn said of her team's strong start. "I knew this group could be competitive, could win any game."
The home-and-home against the Friars is a change for the Terriers to separate themselves from a program in a similar spot. Watchorn is eager to see where her team stacks up.
"It's going to be a great benchmark," she said. "To be able to do it in back-to-back days, be strategic, bring our game, but at the same time adding that mindfulness of the opponent's strategy and being able to solve those problems throughout the weekend is where we're going."
Friday's contest is set for 3 p.m. at Agganis Arena, and for 3 p.m. Saturday at Schneider Arena. Here's what you need to know.
There are still improvements to be made
Winning five straight games is no small feat, but none of them have been entirely comfortable wins, and Watchorn knows there are things the Terriers can still improve upon.
The second-year head coach emphasized wanting her team to create out of different looks and earning the puck by using their bodies to eliminate opponents' opportunities.
"It's earning space around the puck to make first touches," Watchorn said. "Doing it in a balanced way and then reading off of each other."
She added, "Offensive quickness, in terms of our puck movement, can really be an upgrade that we'd like to instill."
The team can always improve their scoring output. Sitting at 2.7 goals per game through the first nine contests is solid, but Watchorn knows that number can improve if the Terriers continue to "create those quality looks."
What line will Lola Reid play on?
Last Saturday's game against the Orange saw a big shakeup to BU's offensive pairings. When asked about it during her weekly media call, Watchorn said freshman forward Lola Reid was nursing the effects of a fall in practice, and that's why the lines were shaken up.
"The lines that ended up coming together throughout the week of practice had built some chemistry," Watchorn said.
Reid slotted in with senior Ani Fitzgerald and freshman Kaileigh Quigg on the fourth line, switching places with sophomore Neely Nicholson, who joined sophomore Alex Law and junior Sydney Healey, who Reid had been playing with over the past few weeks.
It'll be interesting to see if Watchorn reverts back to Reid’s previous line, but regardless, her head coach knows she can count on her no matter which line she's on.
"It makes my life easy…when your leading scorer can score from the fourth line," Watchorn said of Reid.
Scouting the Friars
The Friars (5-3, 2-2 HE) were picked to finish fifth in the Hockey East in the preseason coaches' poll, one spot ahead of the Terriers. Last time out on Oct. 25, Providence took down Northeastern at home, 2-1.
Senior forward Hannah Johnson (four goals, four assists), sophomore forward Audrey Knapp (four goals, four assists) and junior forward Reichen Kirchmair (two goals, six assists) each have eight points through eight games to lead the Friars. Providence has a balanced offense, with five other players with at least five points.
"It's going to be a good test for sure," Watchorn said. "They do have a pretty progressive offensive structure too."
Much like BU, the Friars are led by their stalwart in goal, senior Hope Walinski. In her first seven starts of the season, the netminder has an impressive .938 save percentage and posts a 1.72 goals against average with one shutout.
