UConn women’s hockey (4-4-2, 1-0-1 Hockey East) is gearing up for a ranked Hockey East battle with No. 12 Boston College (6-3-0, 4-1-0 Hockey East) in a home-and-home series this weekend.
The Huskies dropped two spots to No. 13 in the rankings following a defensive battle with Holy Cross last week. Goalkeepers Taylor Belchetz and Shannon Moran shined against the Crusaders, not allowing a single goal over two games. It was Moran’s first start in game two and she delivered a strong performance with 17 saves and her first career win.
UConn was 0-1 on the power play last week, unable to capitalize on their sole opportunity. The Huskies have struggled on the power play ever since a historic 4-4 night against Clarkson, going 0-14 with a skater advantage in the past six games.
Claire Murdoch sealed a shootout win in the first game with a goal in the fourth round, breaking through after an incredible performance by the Holy Cross keeper. Livvy Dewar recorded the lone regulation goal for UConn to win game two, her second of the season.
Last week was the first series where star freshman Caileigh Tiller was held without a goal this season, snapping a three-game goal streak. She still leads the Huskies with six goals and 11 points with a .245 shot percentage. Tiller won 31 of 45 faceoffs against Holy Cross, moving up to No. 10 in the country in faceoff wins with 118.
Boston College is coming off an impressive home sweep over Vermont, a team that was just outside the top 15 in the USCHO rankings. Freshman Avah Sedore earned Hockey East Goaltender of the Week honors after posting 55 saves on a .965 save percentage, allowing two goals in as many games.
BC boasts a talented young core that showed out this past weekend. Freshman Sarah Powers paced the Eagles’ offense with her sixth goal of the season and two assists, setting up both game winning goals against the Vermont Catamounts. Junior defender Grace Bickett and sophomore forward Ava Thomas led the Eagles in scoring, each netting two goals on the weekend. Thomas leads the squad with seven goals and 14 points on the season.
Sitting atop the Hockey East standings, the Eagles proved to be formidable on both sides of the ice, ranking second in goals and goals allowed in the conference. They began the season with a program record 17-0 shellacking of Stonehill to open the season, but their numbers have since evened out to start conference play.
The first game will be on Thursday at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass for a 2 p.m. puck drop. Game two will be back in Storrs on Friday at Toscano Family Ice Forum at 6 p.m. Both games can be streamed live on ESPN+.