PREVIEW: BU women's hockey looks to keep the good times rolling in weekend series at Syracuse

10/24/2024 09:26 PM

This weekend, the Boston University women's hockey team has the chance to do something it hasn't accomplished in five years: win five games in a row. 

The Terriers (4-3-0, 4-1-0 Hockey East) will get that opportunity at Syracuse University's Tennity Ice Pavilion, where they will take on the Orange (2-5-0) on Friday and Saturday.

After a key 4-0 win over Northeastern in the second game of a home-and-home two weeks ago, BU swept Maine, 2-1 on Friday and 2-0 on Saturday, at Agganis Arena. Against a Syracuse team that is unimpressive on paper, BU head coach Tara Watchorn's group will look to keep that momentum going this weekend. 

The puck drops at 6 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday. Here's what you need to know.

This offense needs a jolt

It was a sweep, yes, but last weekend's series with Maine raised some red flags about the consistency of BU's offense. The Terriers scored just four goals all weekend, and — outside of the power play — looked sluggish in the offensive zone for much of the series. 

"Us, as a group, need to continue to get more mature with our game in terms of puck management, how we change in the offensive zone," Watchorn said in her weekly media call on Wednesday. "I think that against Maine, we created chances for them as much as we created them for ourselves."

To help make things easier, Watchorn said the team will be implementing a "more progressive strategy" in the offensive zone for the coming weeks. Watchorn didn't offer specifics, but said she hopes that strategy will ease some of the puck management growing pains that have flared up so far.

So far, the biggest offensive bright spot has been freshman forward Lola Reid, who has shouldered much of the goal-producing load in her first few games of college hockey. She had another stellar weekend, tallying a goal and two assists. Her line, which also features junior Sydney Healey and sophomore Alex Law, has been outstanding to start the season.

Callie Shanahan has captured the starting job in net

This was one of the biggest questions surrounding the team just a few weeks ago, when Shanahan made 40 saves against No. 2 Minnesota, only for sophomore Mari Pietersen to get the nod in net in the second game of the series. 

But Shanahan started both games the following week against Northeastern, shutting out the Huskies with an impressive performance in the second game of that series. Then, she started both against Maine. 

"Just so excited for her," Watchorn said. "She's playing great for us, and she's giving us a chance to win, giving us a minute to get our offense going, our power play, and allowing us to learn the valuable lessons of how we can win hockey games even though it's not perfect."

It's possible that Pietersen will start one of the two games against Syracuse, because it's a non-conference series and the Orange are a weaker opponent, but the goalie dynamic is far more clear now than it was two weeks ago. Shanahan is the starter, and the Terriers will go as far as she takes them.

Another early road trip, another opportunity for team bonding

This weekend is BU's second trip out of the Boston area in October alone, which Watchorn believes is key to building the dynamic of the team. The team grew closer over the trip to Minnesota, as evidenced by a viral video of the team cheering on its bus driver, who read the lineup to the Oct. 6 game against the Golden Gophers in rousing fashion.

The trip to Syracuse will be a bus ride, not a flight, but Watchorn believes it'll have a positive impact on the group dynamic just the same. 

"Especially early in the year, there's nothing that you can really do to help replicate shared experienced until you have them, so it's jut a great opportunity to make more memories together and build relationships you might not in the day-to-day."

Scouting the Orange

Syracuse kicked off its season by sweeping Watchorn's old team, Stonehill College, with a pair of 4-0 wins on Oct. 4 and 5. But since then, the Orange have dropped five straight — most recently, a weekend sweep at the hands of No. 10 Quinnipiac. 

A familiar face is leading the Orange in points so far: Jackson Kinsler, who has two goals and two assists through the first seven games. Kinsler played in 17 games for the Terriers last year before entering the transfer portal. Grad student Charli Kettyle also has four points (goal, 3 assists)

Grad student goalie Allie Kelley has started six of seven games in net for the Orange. She's been excellent, posting a 2.52 goals against average with a .931 save percentage.