By Jack Hodge, news staff
It was a strong week for Northeastern University (NU) women’s hockey with a 5-3 win on Saturday following a 3-2 win on Friday, both against the University of Connecticut (UConn). These two wins boosted the team to a strong 15-9-3 record and continued their undefeated streak against the Connecticut team to a total of 21 games.
On Friday it was a strong start as NU snatched the lead with a goal from senior forward Paige Savage only 3:47 into the game. However, UConn tied up the game with a one-timer from Leah Lum later in the first period.
“One of the big focuses this week was being tougher in our defensive zone, especially in our offensive zone, making sure we are driving the net hard,” assistant coach Nick Carpenito said to GoNU.
Only 55 seconds after UConn tied up the game, a turnover by senior forward Hayley Scamurra led to junior forward Denisa Krizova scoring a wrap around goal. However, weakness among Northeastern’s defense in the second period led to Lum scoring her second goal of the game and tying the score 2-2.
It was a happy ending for NU, who finished the match with a win after junior forward McKenna Brand scored, pushing the score to 3-2. Not only did the goal bring the team a win, but it also made Brand the first Division I women’s player to score 20 goals this season.
The team had more in store for UConn as they came back the next day with a 5-3 win. Driving the net was a fundamental part of this game as the NU Huskies outshot their opponent 38-26.
UConn’s goalie, Annie Belanger, was having a strong game with 33 saves, but that didn’t stop junior forward Shelby Herrington from scoring off a rebound and giving the Huskies a 1-0 lead. By the end of the first period, UConn’s Briana Colangelo had scored with a backhand across the crease, evening the score to 1-1. A goal from Lum for UConn was followed by a goal by sophomore forward Kasidy Anderson keeping the score even heading into the third period.
The final period was where Northeastern shined. A set-up by junior forward Halle Silva led to a goal by junior defenseman Lauren Kelly, but UConn pushed back after Marisa Maccario took a wrist shot later in the period and tied up the game.
With 2:33 left in the period Brand scored her 21st goal of the season and put a final end to the tie game, giving NU a definitive lead.
“There is a reason she is the leading goal scorer in the nation. She is doing a great job finding space,” Carpenito said of Brand’s performance. “Because Brand has the ability to find those spaces it makes it very, very tough for the opponents.”
Krizova scored later in the period, insuring the lead and ending the game 5-3.
In the coming week, the NU Huskies will travel to the University of New Hampshire on Saturday before their first beanpot match against Harvard at Matthews Arena on Tuesday.
Photo by Jerry Yu
