One of the most unforgiving aspects of hockey can be the fact that a team is often only as good as its last game.
After losing to Princeton University, 4-2, last Saturday in a game BU coach Brian Durocher labeled one the most disappointing performances in the program’s three-year history, the Boston University women’s hockey team (2-6-2, 0-2-0 Hockey East) has a chance to quickly erase that memory this weekend against St. Cloud State (5-4-3, 4-4-2 WCHA) tonight and tomorrow at Walter Brown Arena.
The last time the Terriers played Princeton, they watched the game slip away from them as they twice failed to score on a 5-on-3 advantage, sending errant passes and failing to collect loose pucks throughout the contest.
In two games against St. Cloud last season, the Terriers tied one, 2-2, and lost the other, 4-1. The Huskies have scored 25 goals and allowed 34 in 12 games this season, compared the Terriers’ 31 goals scored and 33 allowed in 10 games.
“They’re an established team that’s been around longer than us with four classes of scholarship players so they have a slight edge,” Durocher said. “But we are in our own building, and I’d like to think this should be a battle comparable to Princeton, Dartmouth, Minnesota, or Mercyhurst. I like the fact we have a heck of a chance to win some hockey games here.”
After going 0-for-8 on the power play against Princeton, BU has worked on its power plays, especially the 5-on-3. The Terriers need to improve on setting up in the zone and staying patient to allow scoring chances to present themselves.
“The idea there is to realize that you have to continue to have patience and move the puck and work for good percentages,” Durocher said. “I have an expression that I don’t like fall-away jumpers on the 5-on-3. You should re-collect the puck, move it a couple times and ultimately be moving to the net to make a shot or pass . . . It’s not so much about the system, its more about being disciplined.”
BU will change up the lines to try to give the Huskies a different look. Junior captain Gina Kearns will move from the first line to the second, and freshman Lauren Cherewyk will take her place on the top line with sophomore Melissa Anderson and junior Erin Seman.
“We’re just trying to give it a little bit of a different look here,” Durocher said. “Making just a couple of subtle changes to see if it sparks some people up.”
BU’s offense will have to create quality scoring chances and test senior goaltender Kendal Newell, who sports a .921 save percentage. On defense, the Terriers must pay close attention to sophomore forwards Meghean Pezon, who leads the Huskies in points (12), and sophomore Holly Roberts (seven points). Both have had success against BU in the past. Roberts, a speedy player who has been scouted by the U.S. National Team, scored both goals last year in the first game against BU in a 2-2 tie, and Pezon led the Huskies over the Terriers with two goals in a 4-1 victory the next day.
“[Roberts] probably was the best player on the ice last year in the two games here she played against us.” Durocher said. “They’ve got pretty good goaltending out of [senior Kendal Newell], ” Durocher said. “We’re going to have to work hard to get some pucks past her and certainly keep an eye on Holly Roberts as much as anybody else.”
Above all, the Terriers need to play tonight with a sense of urgency that was missing against Princeton last week. They have shown they can play passionate hockey in the past with gutsy performances against Mercyhurst and Minnesota.
“When you prepare yourself mentally you’ll usually be a good receiver of passes,” Durocher said. “When you’re not, pucks bounce off the stick. If they let themselves go preparation wise, then usually you get those kinds of results.”