By Jared Sugerman
The women’s hockey team split a pair of games against Hockey East foes at Matthews Arena this weekend. The Huskies topped Vermont 2-1 Saturday before losing 4-0 Sunday to New Hampshire, the top-ranked team in the nation.
Northeastern is now 3-10-1 overall, but two of its three wins have come in conference play. The Huskies 2-3 record in Hockey East has them tied for fifth place in the conference. BU is also 2-3 in conference action.
Despite the final score Sunday, head coach Laura Schuler said she believes her team can build on its effort this weekend.
“I think there are just so many things to move forward with, and if we play that way, and continue to play that way, we’re going to be successful,” she said.
Saturday’s game-winning goal, scored by senior forward and captain Nikki Petrich, was an execution of a play focused on in practice leading up to the weekend.
“I know I scored on a power play, but I think that was because we had hustle,” Petrich said. “Off of our fore-check, someone got hooked and we were able to go on the power play. That’s what we were working on in practice throughout the week.”
The goal was Petrich’s second game-winner in as many games, giving her a total of nine goals this season. Petrich also celebrated her 22nd birthday Sunday, so the goal gave her another reason to rejoice.
It was also a landmark weekend for freshman goaltender Leah Sulyma, who made a career-high 43 saves Sunday.
“I’ve never ever played against that caliber of a team, but it’s actually a really good experience because you know that the rest of the teams are under their level, so we know we can play against them,” Sulyma said.
Sulyma also earned her third win of the season Saturday night, stopping 20 of the 21 shots fired her way by the Catamounts.
The one that Sulyma did let slip by Saturday, an even-strength tally for Vermont at 19:01 of the second period, looked as though it might be costly in a game where offense was at a premium. The first goal had not come until the 15:53 mark of the second period, when sophomore defenseman Katy Applin registered her eighth assist of the season, setting up junior forward Ali Biewlawski for her second goal of the year.
With the exception of Petrich’s goal, Northeastern failed to score again for the remainder of the weekend. In an attempt to jump-start the offense, Schuler moved sophomore defenseman Lindsay Berman to the front line. Berman, who was recruited as a forward, has three goals and eight assists this season, and is tied for first place in scoring among Hockey East defensemen.
“She’ll play anywhere. She’s just such a great kid. She’ll do whatever’s asked of her, no questions. Whatever we want, she’ll do,” Schuler said.
Though New Hampshire’s freshman goalie Kayley Herman earned the shutout Sunday, Northeastern managed 24 shots, equaling St. Lawrence’s mark for the most shots against the Wildcats this season.
New Hampshire now boasts a 15-2 overall record, including a perfect 9-0 in Hockey East tilts.
Northeastern will take to the ice at Matthews Arena Saturday, when they will skate against No. 10 Boston College. The puck is set to drop at 2 p.m.
Last time out against the Eagles, the Huskies nearly came back from a 3-0 deficit, but eventually lost 4-2.
