The No. 8 Boston University women’s hockey team will look to stay hot in conference play tonight against the No. 5 University of New Hampshire at Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H.
When the teams met last Thursday at Walter Brown Arena, the Terriers (5-2-1, 2-0-0 Hockey East) knocked off the Wildcats, 3-2. It will be a challenge for BU to knock off UNH (5-1-2, 0-1-2), a perennial Hockey East giant, for the second time this year.
Tonight, however, will be the first time the Terriers march into the Whittemore Center without being a significant underdog.
‘Our kids’ confidence has got to be at its highest point now,’ BU coach Brian Durocher said. ‘They do feel comfortable that maybe player for player we’re able to stay with that [New Hampshire] team.’
The Terriers, riding a five-game unbeaten streak, have not lost since dropping a contest to then-No. 5 Mercyhurst College on Oct. 10. Since then, they have strung together a streak unprecedented in the team’s history, earning four wins and a tie to raise their record to 5-2-1. Two of those wins came against Top-10 teams, including last Thursday’s triumph over then-No. 4 UNH ‘-‘- the highest-ranked opponent BU has ever defeated.
The Wildcats will certainly look for payback in their home arena. Last week’s game marked their first-ever loss to BU, bringing UNH’s all-time record against the Terriers to 16-1-0. The Wildcats have never lost two consecutive Hockey East contests ‘-‘- a streak BU hopes to break tonight.
UNH’s biggest advantage may be its home arena. Since Hockey East’s inception in 2003, the Wildcats are 53-0-8 at Whittemore Center.’
In any case, BU has momentum on its side heading into New Hampshire. After the 3-2 upset the Terriers dealt UNH a week ago and their subsequent 8-1 romp of the University of Maine on Saturday, BU aims to remain unbeaten in Hockey East.
The Terriers have proved they can compete against any team at any level. Their offense has been a step ahead of opposing defenses, while the defensemen and goaltenders have not allowed more than two goals in a game all year.’
Sophomore forward Lauren Cherewyk, who netted five goals in two games last week, earned conference Player of the Week honors for her play last week. In addition, freshman defenseman Tara Watchorn was named conference Rookie of the Week after posting a goal and three assists last week. Both players contributed to a team effort the Terriers hope to duplicate tonight.
BU will have to prove it can dominate away from home. The Terriers ascended to a national ranking during a six-game homestand that began Oct. 10. As the women part with the comforts of Walter Brown, they are sure to receive an icy welcome from a UNH squad with vengeance on its mind.
Durocher said his players will have to adjust to the greater size and square corners of the Whittemore Center rink. He also acknowledged that leaving home might be a challenge for the Terriers, who have spent the last few weeks in Boston.
‘You don’t get that extra adrenaline on the road that you do at home,’ Durocher said. ‘So you really have to play a smarter game on the road.”
Durocher said the keys to a BU win will be avoiding penalties and using the Terriers’ depth to exploit UNH’s slim bench.’ ‘
‘When it’s all said and done, it’s the same thing they’ve been doing for the last 15 or 16 years – playing ice hockey,’ Durocher said. ‘They’re all pretty darn good at it, so hopefully we can keep them relaxed and remind them it’s just another hockey game.’
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The Terriers have proved they can compete against any team at any level. Their offense has been a step ahead of opposing defenses, while the defensemen and goaltenders have not allowed more than two goals in a game all year. <p/>Just the last sentence. Did you bother fact checking that? Earlier in the article you say that the Terriers last loss was to then No. 5 ranked Mercyhurst, though you neglected to mention that it was by a score of 4-2. Four is more than two. The Terriers D has in fact allowed more than two goals in a game this year.