Image Credit: nuhuskies.com

By Catherine Morrison

Coming off a 2–1 victory the night before, Northeastern’s women’s hockey looked to complete the sweep against rivals Boston University on Sunday afternoon. 

BU controlled the puck in the first period, with nine shots on goal to Northeastern’s four. But goalie Aerin Frankel saved all nine, including a particularly impressive block on a wrister from BU’s Courtney Correia. After Frankel’s save, freshman forward Katy Knoll, lying face-down on the ice, cleared the puck away from the goal.

With 4:36 left in the first, Husky forward Tessa Ward notched a deflection goal assisted by Megan Carter and Skylar Fontaine. The goal was Ward’s first of the season; the assist was Carter’s first collegiate point.

With just under four minutes left in the first period, Northeastern’s Brooke Hobson was whistled for interference when she knocked a BU player down. The Huskies handled the power play without a problem, and Frankel ended a shutout first period with the puck in her hand.

Northeastern came in hot in the second period. Five-and-a-half minutes in, after BU left her unattended in the slot, junior forward Veronika Pettey fielded a pass from Matti Hartman and punched home a one-timer for her third goal of the season.

Despite two second-period BU penalties (Emma Wuthrich’s roughing and Natasza Tarnowski’s high sticking), Northeastern couldn’t capitalize. The second period ended with a 9–6 Northeastern shot advantage and a 2–0 Northeastern lead.

The third period started with a power play in effect, but again, Northeastern couldn’t make anything happen against the shorthanded Terriers. With about eight minutes remaining, Knoll missed a shot, hit the ground, looked wobbly when she got up, and left her stick on the ice when she was subbed out.

A BU interference penalty handed the Huskies another power play, and again they couldn’t capitalize, taking just one shot. A Knoll attempt just after the end of the power play was redirected into the wall behind the net by BU goalie Corinne Schroeder. BU pulled Schroeder with two minutes to go but couldn’t sneak one by Frankel, who finished with twenty saves. 

Despite Northeastern shutting out BU, the game was a tight race for control of the puck. Northeastern had only 22 shots on goal, well below their average of 38. Mueller, recently named Hockey East Player of the Month, didn’t do much, registering only three shots.

The weekend sweep moved Northeastern to 7–1–0 (4–1–0 HEAW) and dropped BU to 5–2–1 (2–2–1 HEAW). The Huskies’ next game is against the winless Holy Cross crusaders on Friday at 1 PM at Matthews Arena.

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