In only its third varsity season, the Boston University women’s ice hockey program is pushing toward greatness. After improving in almost every facet of the game over the past two years, the team is poised to join the perennial powerhouses of women’s hockey. But this weekend will perhaps be the biggest test of how far the team has progressed.
The long road ahead began last weekend in Minnesota, with a 2-2 tie against the University of North Dakota and a loss to No. 7 University of Minnesota, 4-2. Things could become harder for BU (0-1-1) this weekend, when the Terriers travel to Erie, Pa. for games Friday night and Saturday afternoon against the Mercyhurst College Lakers.
According to the U.S. College Hockey Online poll on Oct. 8, Mercyhurst is ranked second in the nation, behind only the University of Wisconsin, and hasn’t allowed a goal en route to a 3-0-0 start.
“They are the elite team that could have won the national championship last year and very well might win it this year,” said BU coach Brian Durocher. “We’re going into the lions’ den and we’re going to give it our best effort and continue to push forward as a program.”
Junior forward Hayley McMeekin, who was the top scorer for Quinnipiac University last season, transferred to Mercyhurst this year. Meghan Agosta played on the Canadian Olympic Team at age 18 — a nearly impossible feat for someone so young, Durocher said.
To counter the national powerhouse, the Terriers will have to “shorten the ice” to help set a pace favorable to BU, Durocher said.
“We’re going to have to not play 60 minutes of run and gun,” he said. “[We have to] play hard and attack once in a while and at the same time play a little bit of a reserved style where you play intelligent.”
BU has had plenty of chances in its first two games, tallying 64 shots, but has only converted on four of them. The attack is led by junior co-captain Gina Kearns and junior Erin Seman, who scored BU’s first goal of the season. Freshman forwards Jillian Kirchner and Holly Lorms each scored their first collegiate goals against Minnesota, showing the promise to become major contributors early in their careers.
The defense has been anchored by the double-headed goaltending tandem of junior Allyse Wilcox and sophomore Mellisa Haber, who combined for a .912 save percentage last season. Each saved 90.5 percent of shots in their debuts this season.
Wilcox and Haber alternated games for the majority of the season last year, but Durocher said the rotation will be different this year. The coaching staff will let the season play out to see which quality goaltender steps up. Both will get playing time in big games early in the season, including this weekend, because the team feels confident with either in net.
Regardless of who’s in goal, Durocher believes the Terriers can compete with anybody going into the season and said he’s even more confident after their performance in St. Paul.
“We think we have the know-how and the prominence as a hockey school and a hockey program to be a top-10 team,” Durocher said. “The only way you can prove that is to back it up by scheduling the games.”