Northeastern women’s ice hockey (20-13-1, 15-11-1 HE) split the final weekend of conference play against the University of Vermont Catamounts (8-24-2, 7-18-2 HE) away. The 2-3 loss Feb. 21 and the 3-1 win Feb. 22 put the team at a disadvantage going into Hockey East quarterfinals against Providence College, the game hosted by Providence.
The Feb. 21 game started with a scoreless first period, Northeastern dominating shots 11-8, but Vermont took a massive lead in the second period, graduate student forward Maddy Skelton and sophomore defender Ashley Kokavec taking two big goals under a minute into the second period.
Only three minutes later, senior forward Evelyne Blais-Savoie notched the Catamounts’ third. Two penalties by senior forward Skylar Irving and freshman defender Tuva Kandell only served to slow the team down as they attempted to level the score in the period.
The Huskies ended the period three goals down but leading in shots 19-12.
The team put up a fight in the third period but were ultimately unable to tie the game up before the clock ran out.
After letting in three goals, freshman goaltender Lisa Jönsson was subbed out for sophomore goaltender Mattie Robitzer, who locked down the net in the final period. Junior forward Lily Brazis got her fourth goal of the season in her 100th career game two minutes into the period and three minutes later Irving came in from the right to tuck the puck under senior goaltender Jane Gervais.
Northeastern dominated shots 23-11 in the third period but couldn’t convert in the final minutes for a win, missing out on three conference points.
The next day the Huskies were eager to finish the season off on a good note — despite it being the Catamount’s senior night — leading in shots 9-4 at the end of the first period.
Robitzer was back in the net, this time for her second career start. The Huskies have played all three goaltenders this season, a testament to their strength in the net. Senior Paige Taborski served in the net for 10 games, Jönsson for 23 and Robitzer for two.
The game was looking similar to the afternoon prior when the Catamounts’ power play gave sophomore defender Natalie Zarcone an opening to bring the game to 1-0 at four minutes into the period.
The Huskies changed the tide when they shot back with three goals in the third. Junior forward Lily Shannon swung in from the crease off an assist from the back of the net by freshman forward Éloïse Caron.
Forty seconds later captain and senior forward Taze Thompson grabbed a rebound and shot to Gervais’ left to put the Huskies in the lead 2-1. With a minute to go in the final period Irving notched an empty netter off an assist from graduate student forward Jaden Bogden. The 3-1 win was Robitzer’s first career win after just two starts.
The Huskies will head to the Hockey East quarterfinals against the Providence College Friars (20-11-3, 16-9-2 HE) March 1 in Providence.
