The 47th Women’s Beanpot gets underway this week, and it will be the third time the championship will be decided at TD Garden. The tournament continues to grow, coming off a historic 2025 final that drew a record crowd of 13,279 at the Garden, the largest attendance ever for a women’s college hockey game in New England and the fifth-largest in NCAA history.
The Women’s Beanpot is an annual tournament featuring the four major Boston-area universities: Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, and Northeastern. With both the coveted Beanpot trophy as well as bragging rights on the line, the tournament has become a centerpiece of the collegiate hockey calendar.
This year’s semifinals will be hosted by Boston University at Walter Brown Arena, where Boston College and Harvard will open the competition with a 4 p.m. puck drop, followed by Northeastern and BU in the nightcap at 7:30 p.m.
Northeastern Huskies
No. 7 NPI, No. 7 USCHO (16-5-0, 12-1-0 Hockey East)
Northeastern enters the Women’s Beanpot as the tournament’s most decorated program and its highest-ranked team this season. With 20 Beanpot titles, including the most recent three crowns, the Huskies arrive looking to make it four in a row. Their all-time Beanpot record stands at 56-31-6, a reflection of decades of sustained success in Boston’s signature women’s hockey event.
The Huskies have already made a statement against their Beanpot competition this season. Northeastern swept Boston University with a 3-1 road win on Oct. 31 followed by a 7-3 victory at home. They also took both games against Boston College in early December, earning a 3-1 win at Conte Forum and a 4-2 victory at Matthews Arena in what marked the emotional final women’s game in the historic building.
Despite its success over two of its Beanpot opponents, Northeastern has struggled against ranked opponents. The Huskies are 1-3 against the nation’s top 15, including back-to-back road losses to No. 7 Quinnipiac in October and a home split with No. 4 Penn State. The Huskies were also bested by No. 13/14 Yale just last week, who Harvard claimed a notable victory over earlier this season.
Senior captain Lily Shannon remains the heart of Northeastern’s offense. She leads Hockey East with 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) and ties for 12th nationally at 1.43 points per game. Shannon’s ability to dictate tempo and produce in tight games will likely make her one of the most influential players in the tournament.
Freshman Stryker Zablocki has quickly established herself as a major scoring presence, recording 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in her first collegiate season. Her 1.19 points per game are tied for second in Hockey East, giving Northeastern another consistent offensive threat beyond its veteran core.
On the back end, senior defender Jules Constantinople anchors the blue line. Her 18 points lead all Hockey East defenders, and her ability to contribute offensively without sacrificing defensive structure is a key part of Northeastern’s identity.
Sophomore goaltender Lisa Jönsson has once again been a steady presence in net, posting a 13-3-0 record with a 1.82 goals against average and a .923 save percentage. Jönsson’s Beanpot resume is already elite. Last year, she posted a 1.00 GAA and a .970 save percentage across the two tournament games, stopping 65 of 67 shots and recording a shutout in the championship against Boston University. For those stellar marks, she was named the 2025 Women’s Beanpot Most Valuable Player and received the Bertagna Award as the tournament’s top goaltender.
Statistically, Northeastern checks every box. The Huskies lead Hockey East in scoring at 3.3 goals per game, are tied for eighth nationally in both goals scored and goals allowed, and boast the conference’s top power play at 22.5 percent. Their penalty kill has been even more impressive, operating at 89.8 percent, fourth-best in the country.
Harvard Crimson
No. 20 NPI (9-8-1, 5-6-1 ECAC)
Harvard enters the Women’s Beanpot as a familiar contender with a strong tournament pedigree, even if this season has been defined by inconsistency. The Crimson own 15 Beanpot titles, most recently lifting the trophy in 2022, and carry an all-time tournament record of 51-39-3. While their ECAC results have been uneven, Harvard has shown the ability to rise to the level of elite competition.
The Crimson’s resume features a few statement performances. On Nov. 14, Harvard earned a convincing 4-1 win over No. 10 Yale, one of the top teams in the ECAC. Over winter break, they added an overtime victory against No. 5 Minnesota Duluth, a result that underscored their ability to compete with nationally ranked opponents.
Harvard also faced Boston University in the Friendship Series Championship on Jan. 3, falling 3-2 in a tightly contested game. While the loss did not go in their favor, it provided a useful measuring stick against a familiar Beanpot foe.
Offensively, Harvard does not rely on a single dominant scorer, instead spreading production across its forward group. Junior Angelica Megdanis and sophomore Ella Lucia are tied for the team lead with 11 points apiece, each producing at a rate of 0.61 points per game.
Freshman Carla McSweeney leads the team in goals with six, providing finishing ability that has helped offset Harvard’s lower overall shot volume.
Goaltending has been a strength for the Crimson, with a true split between sophomore Ainsley Tuffy and senior Emily Davidson. Tuffy has posted elite numbers, compiling a 1.69 goals against average and a .953 save percentage, the latter ranking first in the country. She started both the overtime win over Minnesota Duluth and the loss to Boston University.
Davidson has also been reliable, recording a 2.16 GAA and a .927 save percentage. The ability to deploy either goaltender without a significant drop-off gives Harvard flexibility as the tournament unfolds.
Harvard’s profile is defined by discipline and defensive structure. The Crimson average just 5.2 penalty minutes per game, the third-fewest in the country, and their penalty kill operates at 85.7 percent, tied for 11th nationally. They allow 2.5 goals per game, also tied for 11th, keeping games within reach even when offense is hard to come by.
That offense remains the question mark. Harvard averages 2.5 goals per game and generates only 27.1 shots per contest, one of the lowest marks in the nation. Their power play, converting at just 7.8 percent, ranks among the bottom units nationally and could prove costly in a tight Beanpot field.
Boston College Eagles
No. 21 NPI (9-11-1, 7-5-1 Hockey East)
Boston College enters the Women’s Beanpot searching for consistency amid a challenging stretch of the season. The Eagles are currently on a five-game losing streak and have struggled to find rhythm against top-tier opponents, but their history in the tournament suggests they remain a dangerous matchup. BC owns eight Beanpot titles, most recently in 2018, and carries an all-time tournament record of 43-42-4.
While their overall record sits below .500, the Eagles have shown flashes of competitiveness within Hockey East play and will look to reset in a rivalry-driven environment.
Boston College’s nonconference schedule tested them early and often. In late September, the Eagles opened the season with back-to-back road losses against No. 3 Minnesota, falling 7-1 and 11-0. They followed with another difficult road series at No. 4 Cornell in mid-October, dropping both contests by scores of 3-0 and 4-2.
Despite those struggles, BC found success against familiar opponents. In November, the Eagles split a home-and-home with No. 8 UConn, rebounding from a 3-1 loss with a last-second 2-1 road win. They also swept Boston University in consecutive games on Nov. 13 and 14, earning wins of 5-2 at home and 3-2 on the road.
More recently, BC dropped a two-game set against No. 6 Northeastern in early December, losing 3-1 at home and 4-2 on the road.
Freshman forward Ava Thomas has been the Eagles’ most dynamic offensive presence. With 25 points on the season and a scoring rate of 1.19 points per game, Thomas is tied for second in Hockey East and has quickly established herself as a primary driver of BC’s attack.
Junior forward Sammy Taber sits second on the team in points with 14, providing playmaking ability and experience down the middle. Freshman Maxim Tremblay has added a finishing element, ranking second on the team in goals with seven while contributing 11 points overall.
Together, the trio forms the core of an offense that has shown the ability to capitalize when chances present themselves.
Senior Grace Campbell anchors the Eagles in net and enters the Beanpot with a 2.70 goals against average, ranking ninth in the conference, along with a .926 save percentage, good for sixth.
Campbell has faced a heavy workload behind a defense that allows significant shot volume, and her performance will be central to BC’s chances of staying competitive.
The Eagles allow 36.6 shots per game, the fifth-highest mark in the country, contributing to a goals against average of 2.9, tied for 30th nationally. Offensively, BC averages just 2.1 goals per game, tied for 29th out of the 45 NCAA teams.
Their power play has struggled, converting at 11.9 percent, while the penalty kill has been a bright spot, operating at 85.7 percent, tied for 11th nationally. That discipline could be critical in a tournament where special teams often swing momentum.
Boston University Terriers
No. 25 NPI (6-11-3, 5-6-2 Hockey East)
Boston University enters the Women’s Beanpot as an underdog, both historically and in the context of this season’s results. The Terriers have captured two Beanpot titles, in 1981 and 2019, and hold an all-time tournament record of 19-59-7. This year’s group has faced a demanding schedule and endured uneven results, though recent performances suggest a team capable of tightening games against strong opposition.
The Terriers were tested immediately to open the season, dropping a pair of games against No. 3 Minnesota by scores of 5-0 and 5-2. A week later, BU traveled to face No. 8 Colgate and fell in back-to-back games, including a one-goal loss in the second matchup.
Conference play brought more challenges. BU was swept by No. 12 Northeastern at the end of October, losing 3-1 at home and 7-3 on the road, followed by a pair of losses to Boston College in mid-November. Despite those setbacks, the Terriers showed resilience in December, earning a 1-1 tie against No. 7 UConn on the road before narrowly losing the rematch.
At the Friendship Series, BU tied No. 8 Quinnipiac 2-2 before shootouts, then closed the weekend with a 3-2 win over Harvard on Jan. 3.
Senior forward Sydney Healey has been the star of BU’s offense. She leads the team in both goals (11) and points (18), scoring at a rate of 0.90 points per game, which ranks sixth in Hockey East. Healey’s ability to create chances off the rush and finish around the net makes her the Terriers’ most consistent threat.
Senior Clara Yuhn provides secondary scoring and experience, totaling six goals and 13 points on the season, while fellow senior Lilli Welcke ranks third on the team in goals with five. With a veteran-heavy forward group, BU will look to lean on experience rather than volume scoring.
Boston University has employed a split in net between junior Mari Pietersen and graduate student Michelle Pasiechnyk. Pietersen has posted the stronger numbers, carrying a 2.26 goals against average and a .927 save percentage, the latter ranking fifth in Hockey East. Pasiechnyk has seen similar usage but with more uneven results, recording a 2.88 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. Their records reflect the number of close, challenging games BU has played, rather than poor individual performance.
BU’s statistical profile reflects a team that struggles to generate offense while remaining competitive defensively. The Terriers average 2.1 goals per game, tied for 29th nationally, while allowing 2.8 goals per game, tied for 28th. Those numbers have kept many games within reach, but rarely tilted in their favor.
Special teams have been a major concern. BU’s power play operates at just 4.6 percent, the second-worst mark in the country, while the penalty kill sits at 83.8 percent, ranking 19th nationally. In a tournament where special teams often decide outcomes, that disparity could loom large.
Northeastern’s quest for a fourth straight Beanpot title begins at Walter Brown Arena, where the Huskies will take on Boston University with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Max Schwartzberg, Armaan Vij, and Daisy Roberts will have the call on WRBB Sports.
Armaan Vij is a third-year student at Northeastern University and a broadcaster and writer for WRBB Sports. He has covered Northeastern hockey, baseball, and rowing both on-air and in print for the past two years. Read all his articles here.