After rattling off a program record six straight wins to kick off the season, the Boston University women’s ice hockey team then cooled off and dropped two straight games to nationally ranked opponents.
This weekend, the Terriers (6-2-0, 2-2-0 Hockey East) look to get back on the winning track while improving their fortunes in the conference.
Saturday, BU will take on the conference leading University of Connecticut at Walter Brown Arena before the team travels north to face off with the University of Vermont in a Sunday matinee.
UConn came into the season slotted to finish fifth in the league in the coaches’ preseason poll after an abysmal 2006-07 campaign. The Huskies (7-3-0, 4-0-0), however, are back with a vengeance and have already knocked off the University of Maine and Providence College en route to a 4-0 Hockey East record.
“They were my dark horse, my long-shot team,” said BU coach Brian Durocher. “Last year, they had a very depleted roster and that hurt them. This year, through recruiting, good health and being one year older, they have three solid lines and good defense.”
The Terriers will be facing a UConn squad that is drastically different from the team they fared 1-1-1 against last season. With 10 freshmen on this season’s roster, the team’s youth has yet to be a detriment.
“There’s no doubt we have a lot of respect for them,” Durocher said. “They play a good solid brand of college hockey.”
Despite the team’s freshmen-laden roster, Durocher said he feels the depth and experience the Huskies gained last season will be valuable in their quest for success this season.
On Saturday, it will e most important for the Terriers to maintain the same vigor they brought to the ice that kept them in much of the game with No. 9 Boston College last weekend.
“It’s still early, but these games are very important,” Durocher said. “Playing teams that are as good or better than we are, we need to grab some points. Getting a key win early in the season at home is very important [in the long run].”
After the Terriers take on the Huskies, they will hit the road and travel north to face a UVM team they are undefeated against this season. Three weeks ago, BU refused to allow a goal to the Catamounts as they defeated them handily in back to back games, 3-0 and 4-0, respectively.
Vermont like BU is in its second year as a Hockey East team, and their struggles from last season seem to have carried over to this year. The Catamounts have yet to notch a win in Hockey East with an 0-4 record to go along with their 2-8-0 mark overall.
After what is expected to be a highly competitive game between two Hockey East contenders, it will be important for the Terriers to be able to change gears to a new team, on the road, that will be ready to play.
“We have to try to take care of business as best we can on Saturday and almost immediately avoid a let down in any way on Sunday,” Durocher said.
“It’s important for the team to get back to basics,” he added. “In the BC game, we shouldn’t have allowed five goals. We need to play well in all three facets of the game and we need a real team effort to tighten up our defense.”