Despite their march to the program’s first-ever Hockey East regular season title, the team that has given the No. 10 UConn women’s ice hockey team (23-7-5, 19-4-4 Hockey East) the most trouble are the Boston College Eagles (15-13-7, 13-9-5 Hockey East), who will visit the Toscano Family Ice Forum tonight with the winner advancing to the Hockey East championship game.
The Huskies began their postseason run on Saturday afternoon, hosting 10th-seeded Holy Cross. Forward Jada Habisch finished the game with two points, which included a goal and an assist. Senior captain Coryn Tormala found the back of the net for the sixth time this season, with freshman Ashley Allard contributing another goal for her sixth. Junior forward Brianna Ware gave Connecticut a 4-1 cushion in the second period. Despite junior goaltender Tia Chan allowing two goals, the Huskies faced little to no trouble advancing to the semifinal round.
Boston College hosted fifth-seeded Providence College on Friday night in what ended up being a thriller. After the Friars got on the board early in the second period, Boston College sophomore forward Kate Ham scored her third goal of the season. It was her first in over a month. The game would stay tied and head into overtime. With just under 17.5 minutes into the extra period, freshman forward Sammy Taber came up in a big way to push the Eagles to the semifinal round.
On Friday, the Hockey East announced their Women’s All-Star Teams.
UConn had two players on the first team: Habisch and defenseman Camryn Wong. Wong was also the runner-up for the Army ROTC Hockey East Defender of the Year, while Habisch was named the runner-up for the Hockey East Three Stars Award.
Chan was named to the second team, making her the second-best goaltender according to the 10 head coaches in the league.
Senior forward Kathryn Stockdale was named the best defensive forward in the conference as part of a portion of the honors the league handed out last week.
Boston College did not have anyone named to the first or third teams, but Taber was the highest-rated freshman in the conference, earning a spot on the Hockey East All-Stars Second Team.
Taber joined defenseman Molly Jordan and forward Julia Pellerin on the Pro Ambitions Hockey East All-Rookie Team and was the only unanimous selection.
Outside the star freshman, the Huskies will look out for forward Sammy Smigliani, who ranks second on the team in assists and points with 15 and 26.
Boston College goaltender Grace Campbell averages 2.45 goals allowed per game, with 18 of her 83 goals allowed coming on power plays. The sophomore from Kensington, Maryland has a save percentage of .922.
On the other hand, the goaltender duo of Chan and junior Megan Warrener has proved to be more successful.
Chan averages 1.46 goals allowed per game and has a save percentage of .945.
Despite Chan being in the crease more than her, the Ontario native allows 1.01 goals per game and has a save percentage of .951.
While it is likely that head coach Chris MacKenzie will turn to Chan, who played in the Olympics representing China, he has many great players to put in the net for this crucial game.
Two players on Boston College’s roster are Connecticut natives and will return to the Nutmeg State tonight. Junior defenseman Annaka Mettler is from New Canaan, while Jordan is from Berlin, Connecticut.
The Huskies have not fared well against Boston College in the past. The Eagles hold a 47-25-11 lead in the all-time series, with UConn losing three of the last four meetings. Connecticut has yet to beat Boston College at their new home. The last home win came at the former Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum, now known as the UConn Volleyball Center, on Nov. 4, 2022.
Connecticut’s 2022-23 season ended in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, losing to the Eagles in the quarterfinal round of the Hockey East Tournament. Tonight is an opportunity for UConn to get revenge.
The Huskies are two wins away from winning the program’s first conference tournament championship. That would give the program its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. UConn has made it to the championship game five times in their program history but has not come out on top.
On the other side of the bracket, the University of New Hampshire faces Northeastern University in a game that will be decided by the time UConn’s game starts. The two winners from tonight’s games will face off for the Hockey East Championship.
UConn hosts Boston College at the Toscano Family Ice Forum tonight at 7 p.m. and will be televised on NESN. The other semifinal game begins at 4:30 p.m. from Matthews Arena in Boston, Massachusetts, and will be televised on NESN and ESPN+.