The UConn women’s ice hockey team is set to stay in Storrs this weekend for two in-conference matchups this weekend against Merrimack and Northeastern. Connecticut has not lost a game since Nov. 29 when they fell to Yale in the Nutmeg Classic and have been on a roll this season. The Huskies have climbed up the rankings and find themselves sitting fifteenth in the national polls this week.
The Huskies will kick off the weekend on Friday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m. at the Toscano Family Ice Forum, hosting Merrimack. Merrimack is currently at the bottom of the Hockey East rankings, having a 3-13-3 record in conference play and a 6-17-3 record overall.
The Warriors are led by sophomore forward Maria Lindberg, who scored both of Merrimack’s goals in their 3-2 loss against Connecticut when both squads faced one another on Nov. 15. Lindberg is currently the team leader in points (16) and goals (9) and will be a player that Connecticut’s defense should keep an eye out for.
Following their matchup against the Warriors, UConn will transition from completing a season sweep to avoiding a season sweep against Northeastern on Saturday, Feb. 1.
With a puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m., UConn will host the No. 12 Northeastern Huskies in a ranked matchup. Northeastern got the best of Connecticut when they faced off earlier in the year, defeating the Huskies 1-0 in both of their games.
This matchup will play host to the two best goaltenders in the conference, UConn’s Tia Chan and Northwestern’s standout freshman Lisa Jonsson. Chen currently holds a 9-2-2 record when she’s in the net, with three shutouts and an outstanding .955 save percentage and only allowing 1.14 goals allowed per game and is second in goaltending in Hockey East. Jonsson leads the Hockey East Conference with six shutouts, and a 96% save percentage.
Unlike their previous two matchups, the Huskies are going to have to get their offense going and rely on their own star freshman Claire Murdoch, who leads the team with 20 points and 11 goals. Murdoch currently ranks third in Hockey East in both points and goals, while her teammate Ashley Allard comes in at seventh in points during conference play with 14.
With a 16-8-2 record, the Huskies currently sit at No. 15 in the national rankings and are looking to make a statement this weekend. Though Connecticut has had an impressive season, the Huskies are currently 2-7-1 against nationally ranked opponents. If UConn wants to continue to climb the rankings, they are going to have to defeat those ranked above them, including Northeastern.
A win against Northeastern would carry a lot of momentum into next weekend as well, when the Huskies will face off against the Boston Terriers, who are currently tied for first in the Hockey East standings.