Throughout the No. 4 Boston University women’s hockey team’s recent six-game unbeaten streak, sophomore goaltender Victoria Hanson has been a steady and sure presence between the pipes. However, Monday night’s 3-1 win over Providence College saw another goaltender in the cage.
For the first time since Nov. 8, freshman goaltender Erin O’Neil got the nod in goal from BU coach Brian Durocher. Her recent absence was due to injury, but Durocher’s decision paid great dividends, as O’Neil improved her record to 4-2-1 on the year.
“I was really happy for her because it’s been a while due to the injury,” Durocher said. “I was trying to make sure she was healthy and not put her out there at 75, 80 percent because we didn’t have to do it. She kept looking better in practice though. Now, it’s great for her to be a part of it as the first half of the season ends.”
O’Neil showed no signs of rust even though Providence (3-14-2, 2-6-1 Hockey East) applied a great deal of pressure early and often. The Friars used three power-play opportunities in the first period to amass a significant amount of puck possession in the Terriers’ defensive zone. These power play advantages allowed PC to fire eight shots on O’Neil, but she turned away every effort that came her way.
Come the second period, much of the same narrative continued. BU (12-3-2, 8-2 Hockey East) suffered another three minor penalties, and the Friars kept up their high-pressure game. O’Neil stood tall, but she was eventually bested 4:25 into the second period when Friar forward Brooke Boquist converted her one-on-one opportunity.
However, O’Neil stopped the next four shots that came her way in the second and demonstrated the presence that earned her time early in the season. Although she is only a freshman, O’Neil commanded the crease and time and time again, using her positioning to make difficult saves seem like routine.
“She made some sneaky great saves tonight,” Durocher said. “There were a couples screens where I don’t know how she found the puck, but she did. She controlled a couple of low shots with saves and even at the end got an assist on the open-net goal, which is great for her.”
This was most evident Monday night when the Friars seemed to have several goal-scoring opportunities in the first and second periods. O’Neil quickly quelled panic each time by sliding across the BU crease and using her 5-foot-7 frame to her advantage.
As the third period commenced, O’Neil again kept her composure between the pipes. She repeatedly used her blocker, glove, stick and pads to keep every Friar opportunity that came her way out of the back of the net.
With the Hanson back in the lineup, BU has two proven players that can now carry the team in goal.
“These are both young goalies who would love to be the goalie, but I want them to make that decision for us,” Durocher said. “The good thing is it’s becoming a harder decision because they’re both playing well. Erin came back tonight, but as we get into early January or February, if someone sneaks ahead, maybe we put that person in as the number one.”
For Durocher, he said O’Neil’s 15 saves reflect how valuable her goaltending combination is to the team. O’Neil’s play against Providence shows there will be little to no drop off when she gets the nod, and Durocher will have to make a difficult decision when play resumes after the winter break.
“When we get back [from break], we will probably get the two of them on board rotating,” he said. “If we have to make a decision, we will, but we know that we have two goalies that can get the job done.”
Jonathan's a New Englander who writes about sports, features and politics. He currently covers men's hockey at BU, worked as Sports Editor during the spring 2016 semester and is on the FreeP's Board of Directors. Toss him a follow on Twitter at @jonathansigal.
