The memorable run the women’s soccer team made to the NCAA tournament this fall may still be serving the Northeastern athletic program well.
After the women’s hockey team secured the only berth remaining for the Hockey East postseason tournament two weekends ago against Vermont, junior defender and co-captain Katy Applin drew upon her recollection of that run to give a reminder of what her team might be capable of doing in the playoffs.
‘We’ve seen it before, like with our women’s soccer team here at Northeastern,’ Applin said. ‘They went in as the sixth-ranked team and came out the winners, so we’re hoping to follow in their footsteps.’
Northeastern’s quest to emulate their cleated brethren will begin Sunday, Feb. 28, when the sixth-seeded Huskies play third-seeded Boston University’ (17-10-7) at Walter Brown Arena, where Northeastern has already won a game this season. Jan. 8, the Huskies traveled to BU and skated away with a 2-0 victory against the-then No. 9 Terriers, thanks in part to a 31-save effort by sophomore goalie Leah Sulyma (7-8-2, 2.24).
The Huskies and Terriers have played thrice more since Feb. 10, and Boston University has been victorious on all three occasions. Overall, Northeastern is 1-3 versus Boston University this season, including an 8-1 loss’ Feb. 22, from which Sulyma was pulled.
‘You have your days sometimes,’ said BU head coach Brian Durocher. ‘But it’s going to a be a knock-down, drag-out game next weekend where one goal is going to probably decide it, and I’m hoping that we’ve got one more than them.’
Durocher also said that Northeastern may have even ‘missed coverage’ on at least one occasion Feb. 22, but that ‘their kids play with a lot of heart and energy, and we’ll have our hands full next week to say the least.’
Senior Allyse Wilcox (11-7-4, 2.28) has seen the majority of the time in net for the Terriers, while freshman forward’ Jenelle’ Kohanchuk (13-15-28) leads BU in scoring. Sophomore forward Kristi Kehoe (16-8-24), is Northeastern’s top offensive threat.
After allowing four goals during the first period Feb. 22, Sulyma was replaced by freshman Florence Schelling (5-11-1, 2.26), who has played in six of the season’s final seven games, starting in five.’ Northeastern head coach Dave Flint said he’s not sure who will start his team’s first round playoff game.
‘I want them both working hard and see who has the better week at practice,’ Flint said. ‘Right now, I’m split down the middle. I don’t know who’s going to go.’ he said
In November, Northeastern freshman keeper Stephanie Gordon allowed one goal in three conference tournament games to help the Huskies’ to their first Colonial Athletic Association championship in women’s soccer. Now, the women’s hockey team is seeking its first Hockey East Championship since joining the conference in 2002-03.
‘You look at, especially in the sport of ice hockey, through history of the playoffs at all levels, the teams that do well are the teams that have the hot goalie,’ Flint said. ‘If we can get a hot goalie and get some bounces and some people step up, then I think we can do some damage.’