After an encouraging victory against Penn State in the season opener, Northeastern was handed a dose of reality in Friday’s rematch at Pegula Ice Arena.
The Huskies scored the game’s first goal on a beautiful finish from senior Skylar Irving and received another strong performance in net by senior Paige Taborksi, but did not find enough offensive consistency to keep pace with the No. 12 Nittany Lions. The result was a 2-1 defeat — the exact type of low-scoring affair the Huskies grew accustomed to in the first semester last year.
Northeastern should return to Boston pleased with their performance on the road against a ranked opponent, and has reasons to be encouraged by their goaltending and new forward additions. But there’s also plenty of teaching points and details to clean up ahead of Friday’s home opener against Quinnipiac.
Dave Flint’s lineup options are limited by long-term injuries to Allie Lalonde and Peyton Compton, two talented sophomore forwards who were expected to provide much-needed explosiveness and skill in the top six. As a result, Flint opted to start the season by joining Irving, his star senior center, with Clarkson grad transfer Jaden Bogden and promising freshman Éloïse Caron.
The trio followed up their strong debut with another solid performance on Friday, as Irving displaying her quickness, feel, and assertiveness carrying the puck into the offensive end and distributing in the O-zone, and Bodgen showing solid physicality on the forecheck and the ability to handle the puck under duress.
The line was responsible for the Huskies lone goal of the afternoon, which came in the waning seconds of the first period. The play was initiated with a well-executed breakout, as Bogden entered the zone and left the puck for the trailing Irving, who found space with a nifty cutback and buried the goal over the right shoulder of Penn State goalie Katie DeSa.
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Aside from Irving’s score at the end of the period, neither team generated much sustained offensive pressure in the first frame — the teams combined for just nine shots on goal.
However, the ice began to open up in the second with some crisper passing on both sides, in addition to some looks created off offensive-zone turnovers. The result was nine shots on goal for Northeastern and 12 for Penn State during the frame.
Both of the Nittany Lions’ goals in the second period were generated by displays of brilliance from Tessa Janecke, a reigning top 10 Patty Kazmaier finalist and one of the best players in college hockey.
On the first goal, which came at 13:37 in the second period, Janecke corralled a loose puck from her defensive blue line and took advantage of Northeastern’s partial line change, which provided her with open space to waltz into the offensive zone and rip a shot over Taborksi’s left shoulder.
Then, while working short handed just three minutes later, Janecke found open ice and blew past retreating Northeastern defender Lily Yovetich, before dumping the puck to teammate Maddy Christian while driving towards the net for the dump-in score.
Both goals would have been difficult saves for Taborksi, who tallied 23 saves in her fourth career start and once again displayed excellent poise in net.
Goaltending is an inevitable question mark this season — it’s the first time in seven years that Northeastern does not roster Aerin Frankel or Gwyneth Phillips — but Taborski gave the Huskies everything they could have asked for over these first two games. Highly-anticipated freshman netminder Lisa Jonsson will also see time in the coming weeks, but Taborski’s steady play is among the very best long-term signs from this weekend.
On the offensive end, Penn State did a good job limiting Northeastern’s lanes on breakouts and forcing offensive zone turnovers, but also ceded some golden transition opportunities which the Huskies failed to capitalize on. Junior Lily Shannon broke loose with a one-on-zero breakaway in the second period, which DeSa stonewalled, and a promising two-on-one rush in the third period ended with the puck dribbling off junior Holly Abela’s stick.
For Northeastern to succeed near the top of Hockey East again this year, those middle six forwards will need to take care of the puck and execute when given opportunities, much as they did for stretches during the second semester last year when the Huskies were at their best.
But particularly until the freshman settle in, this team will need to win low-scoring games predicated on stellar defense, a special teams edge, and finding just enough offense at even strength to scrape by. And this weekend proved that the Huskies’ early-season formula for success could hold up against quality competition — a positive start to a long season ahead.
Northeastern returns to action on Friday, Oct. 4, for their home opener against Quinnipiac at 7:00 p.m. Emma Sullivan, Amelia Ballingal, and Armaan Vij will have the live radio call on WRBB 104.9FM.