The Boston University women’s hockey team won its first Hockey East Championship in program history Sunday, defeating the University of Connecticut, 2-1, in overtime.
The Terriers (17-8-12, 10-6-5-3) made it to the final game by shutting out the University of New Hampshire, 4-0, in the semifinals. They will play No. 1-seed Mercyhurst College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament against next weekend.
Sophomore defenseman Tara Watchorn was the hero on Sunday against UConn (21-9-7, 10-5-6-1), scoring on a slapshot from the point at 9:52 of overtime to break a 1-1 tie. Watchorn, who was a plus-4 over the weekend, was named to the All-Tournament team.
“I skated up to the blue line and the puck was about to come outside, and I tried to keep it in,” Watchorn said in the postgame press conference. “I saw an opening for a shot, so I just took it. For this time in the game, and for how tired I was, I thought I got a lot on it.”
Freshman defenseman Kathryn Miller opened the scoring for BU midway through the first period, knocking in a rebound off a shot by sophomore forward Jenelle Kohanchuk. UConn senior forward Michelle Binning, the Huskies’ leading scorer, tied the game late in the second period.
Though they managed 10 shots in the third, the Terriers could not break through by the end of regulation.
Watchorn’s goal won the game in extra time, but a strong performance from senior goaltender Melissa Haber was just as instrumental to the Terriers’ success. Haber stopped 25 of 26 shots, including five in overtime, to preserve the victory.
Haber, who was named the tournament MVP, earned her program-record ninth career shutout against UNH (19-8-5, 13-6-2-0) on Saturday. She made 17 saves in what was a tight 0-0 contest until senior forward Laurel Koller scored a shorthanded goal with less than a minute remaining in the second period.
After Koller’s goal, the Terriers rallied for 11 shots in the third, after only registering a combined 10 in the first two periods.
After a goal from junior forward Jillian Kirchner, Anderson put the game out of reach at 16:11 of the third. She converted on a pass from junior forward Lauren Cherewyk to make it 3-0, and then put home an empty-net goal with less than a minute remaining.
After failing to string together even a two-game winning streak throughout the majority of the season, the Terriers are suddenly riding a six-game streak into the NCAA Tournament. They have not lost in regulation since Jan. 29.
BU’s play has been raised by consistent goaltending from Haber and at least a point per game from the top line &- Anderson, Cherewyk and freshman forward Jill Cardella. Most of the team is playing its best hockey of the season right now, from impressive defensive performances by sophomore defensemen Kasey Boucher and Carly Warren to reliable secondary scoring from players like Koller and Kirchner.
After their strong finish to the year, the Terriers were seeded third going into the HE playoffs, below Providence College and UNH. But Providence was upset by fifth-seeded UConn in the semifinals, and will miss the NCAA Tournament as a result. UNH move on to the tournament with an at-large bid and will face the University of Minnesota Duluth in the first round.
No matter how the Terriers fare against formidable Mercyhurst (29-2-3), the fact that they are finishing a remarkable season with an NCAA Tournament berth is a reflection of how far the program has come in the last five years since becoming a varsity team.
“We are so proud to be a part of Boston University hockey, and we want to set our own legacy,” said Coach Brian Durocher after the championship win. “And now these kids get to play in an NCAA Tournament, which is absolutely fantastic for them.”
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