BOSTON — It was a disappointing loss for the Northeastern women’s hockey team when they hosted UNH on Saturday afternoon, skating to a 2-0 defeat to earn yet another series split.
Despite outshooting the Wildcats 30-19, the Huskies couldn’t find the back of the net. Between some bad luck hitting the post, and some fantastic diving plays from goaltender Noemi Martinez — who recorded her first career shutout in only her second collegiate start — Northeastern came up empty.
“The post and the crossbar were not our friends tonight,” said Northeastern head coach Dave Flint. “I don’t think the hockey gods were looking down on us.”
For a team that typically uses its speed to its advantage, the Huskies moved slowly through the first two periods, setting up on the blue line but never finding a way in. They held great possession, but with a sea of blue jerseys in the slot, it was hard for them to get a clear shot or a quality rebound chance. The Wildcats absorbed 20 blocked shots through the game.
“I thought we outplayed them for most of the game,” Flint said. “Had a lot of good looks, did a lot of good things, but the puck just didn’t fall and that happens sometimes.”
Both of UNH’s goals came in the second period, just over six minutes apart.
On a Wildcats power play which stemmed from a Morgan Jackson hooking call, senior forward Kira Juodikis grabbed the puck below the goal line, finding senior forward Shea Verrier above the right faceoff circle. Verrier dragged in closer to center, picking a spot short-side and firing over the shoulder of Northeastern netminder Paige Taborski to put the Wildcats on the board.
The Huskies appeared to have closed the gap just minutes later, when Ella Blackmore’s sharp-angle shot bounced off the crossbar. But after replay review, it was ruled no goal and the deficit stood 1-0.
Shortly after, Sara Boucher burst out of the box after serving two minutes for tripping, stealing the puck out from under Tory Mariano. The defender kept pace for the footrace, but with a look over her shoulder, Boucher found the top corner of the net to double UNH’s lead.
The Huskies picked up steam by the third period, but the Wildcats fought them off in stride, getting in between many of Northeastern’s passes and putting pressure on the blue line.
Tension between the two teams picked up as well, but trips and pushes and shoves on both sides went uncalled, and the players took the fight into their own hands with chaos erupting into a scrum behind Martinez’s net at the final whistle.
Northeastern had some great individual performances on the ice, with depth scorers continuing to step up as the lines shuffle to see who will gel the most. With grad student Jaden Bogden out of the lineup this week due to injury, Holly Abela filled in the gap at first line right wing, and right behind her was Blackmore, who has come up big for the Huskies with three goals so far in her sophomore campaign.
Sophomore Ellie Mabardy also skated out in her third game of the season, hitting the pipe in the first period in one of the Huskies’ many close calls of the afternoon.
The special teams also shifted, rotating between using one and two defenders as Northeastern’s blue line continues to create offensive momentum.
Jacob Oshinsky/WRBB Sports“We’re trying to figure out personnel and so you might still see a lot of changes in personnel until we find the right conversation to get them along,” Flint said.
With a tough weekend ahead of them facing off against the reigning Hockey East Champions and fellow Huskies of UConn, Northeastern will need to take the days off to recalibrate and come out fresh.
WRBB Sports will have written coverage of Northeastern’s game against UConn on Friday night from Toscano Ice Forum, and a live broadcast of Saturday’s rematch at Matthews Arena.