For the opening round of playoffs, No. 5 Northeastern women’s hockey (27-7-1, 21-2-1 HE) took on the Boston University Terriers (11-21-3, 8-14-2 HE) in a double overtime thriller, beating them 2-1.
The location was technically a Northeastern home game, as per its No. 1 seed status. But without an arena, the Huskies found themselves playing in Walter Brown Arena, the Terriers’ home ice. Fans from both schools showed up, and a reported 1,203 people were in attendance.
Sophomore forward Éloïse Caron, who has not played since getting injured in her last matchup against BU Feb. 13, made a triumphant return to kick off scoring four minutes into the first period. After capitalizing on a blue line defensive let-up by BU, Caron shot the puck from the left faceoff circle past junior goaltender Mari Pietersen, collecting her 14th goal and 23rd point of the season.
It was the energy Northeastern needed after a weeks-long stretch with an incomplete line up; senior forward Holly Abela, graduate student forward Jaden Bogden, junior forward Peyton Compton and Caron had been out with injuries, and freshman defender Alessia Baechler was out for the Olympics. Baechler, Compton and Caron were all back on the ice Feb. 28, pulling the Huskies out of the untoward shorthanded period.
The Terriers were matching the Huskies all game. By the end of the first period, they were leading in shots on goal 12 to nine, and in the second, nine to six.
Northeastern’s power play has continued to struggle this season, currently at .197, and a shorthanded goal from BU’s senior forward Sydney Healey eight minutes into the second period gave the Huskies no relief. It was Healey’s third shorthanded goal of the season, and she’s been BU’s top producer all season. It was the first penalty of the game as sophomore defender Tessa Demain had been put in the sin bin for hitting from behind. Neither team was able to convert any penalty afterwards.
Only in the third period did the Huskies finally best the Terriers in shots on goal, 11 to nine, but they remained unable to find the net, and the dog-on-dog matchup was sent to overtime.
Unlike in the regular season, playoff overtime is 5-on-5 and the 20 minute periods continue. After an additional 20 minutes of hockey wearing on both teams, BU took 10 shots on goal to Northeastern’s seven, and with no goals scored, the second overtime began.
It was freshman forward Emy McDermid, who’s been praised by coaches for her adjustment to the team and has been major all season up and down the ice, who came through for Northeastern’s golden goal with just 1:14 left in the period. After senior defender Kristina Allard wrestled the puck to the offensive zone and took a close shot, McDermid collected the rebound and found the back of the net.
McDermid knocked it in before being pushed to the ground by senior defender Maeve Kelly. Her teammates launched to the ground themselves in celebration of their 19th consecutive Hockey East semifinal appearance. Sophomore goaltender Lisa Jönsson made 39 saves to keep the Huskies in the game.
Northeastern is already on its way to the NCAA tournament, given its No. 5 position in the NCAA Percentage Index, or NPI, but after two consecutive overtime losses in the Hockey East Championship final, the Huskies are going to fight for redemption. With Caron and Baechler back on the ice, that dream could become reality.
The Huskies will head back to Walter Brown Arena to take on the University of Vermont Catamounts (16-16-5, 9-11-4 HE) March 3 at 6:00 p.m in the single elimination semifinal. The winner of the game will play the victor between the College of Holy Cross and University of Connecticut.
