BU Over UNH

The BU Terriers bussed over the border tonight to take on the UNH Wildcats in a crucial Hockey East matchup at the Whittemore Center. At the end of 60, the Terriers got the W (and the 3 points in the standings) to leapfrog the Wildcats into 5th place in the Hockey East standings.

This was BU’s first game back stateside after winning the Friendship Series over in Belfast. On the other hand, UNH was fresh off a sweep of LIU last weekend with an aggregate score of 10-1, not a typo.

In net for the Terriers was Grad Student Michelle Pasiechnyk making her 10th start of the season and her first trip to UNH in a red and white sweater. At the other end of the sheet, it was Junior Sedona Blair making her 15th start of the campaign for the Wildcats.

The game opened up fairly even as neither team established a definitive advantage in zone time or puck possession and as the period progressed, it felt as if special teams would decide this one. UNH got the first power play, just before midway of the first, but couldn’t cash in. Then, just after the 10-minute mark, BU got their first power play chance of the night. But no one told UNH.

A turnover in the neutral zone sent Addison Spitz busting into the UNH zone on the left wing with Kelly Harty driving the net. Spitz opened up to lay a perfect dish cross-crease and Harty initially put the puck off Pasiechnyk’s right pad. But Harty stayed with it and tucked her own rebound into the near side of the net to put UNH up early. Get that fish on the ice!

That score held until almost the final horn in the first before Luisa Welcke tied it up. Solid body contact in the neutral zone (more on that later) sent BU into the UNH zone with a full head of steam and bad intentions. Riley Walsh fed Welcke on the LW from the high slot and then it was all #16. Welcke let a heavy wrister go just outside the dot that beat Blair far-side over the glove. Snipe city all the way.

In the middle frame, UNH got sloppy. They were careless with the puck and some poor decision making led to some great BU chances but to no avail.

Not sure if you heard, but Blair is pretty good.

Just around midway of the period Sydney Healy called game. Healy broke in with another BU player to her right but that Terrier peeled and changed up (I’m calling that a great unselfish change heading in the offensive zone), so Healy went 1:4 and made it count. Using the UNH defender as a screen, Healy moved laterally once she reached the LW circle and put the puck within inches of where Welcke’s shot landed. Far-side top corner over the glove. Maybe Healy and Welcke can be co-mayors of Snipe City?

In the 3rd the pace dropped off to open the period but steadily ramped up as the time wound down. Blair was huge in the 3rd and kept the Wildcats in this one but the Wildcats couldn’t get it done and dropped their 6th home game of the season.

Actual video of Blair shutting the door.

The Wildcats are off until they host Northeastern next Saturday night and the Terriers will face off against those same NU Huskies this Tuesday at Walter Brown Arena in the 2nd game of the opening round of the Beanpot Tournament..

Some notes from the game:

• Both of these goalies played outstanding. I’d have more clips of Pasiechnyk but BU didn’t give as much social media love to their goalie as UNH did.
• Stick taps for Keira Healey who laid out to deny a UNH bid late in the first. The Wildcats had her dead to rights in a 2:1 but Healey swept the puck out of danger.
• Addison Spitz was all over the ice. She is relentless hunting the puck and does great work along with walls. Just a great player with a grinder’s mentality and top end skill.
• That body contact I referenced on Welcke’s goal? That was Riley Walsh who stood up a Wildcat player in open ice (cleanly) and caused the turnover. Walsh was very physical all night, but especially on that shift and completely turned the tide. That’s the stuff that doesn’t show up on the scoresheet, but I got you Walshie.
• And lastly, I’d like an investigation into the amount of sisters that are currently on BU’s roster. That just doesn’t seem fair.

Check out our latest podcast here and watch your feeds as we’ll be loading plenty of Beanpot content along with all of our usual nonsense. You can follow us on all socials @BTGHockeyPod

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