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Boston University Women's Hockey

UNH at BU

UNH at BU

So my original post with my thoughts of the UNH at BU game last Thursday has gone missing, as has a response to it. As I didn’t save it this is my second attempt at a write-up.

Due to a late start and traffic I missed the first period, arriving during the first intermission. UNH had taken a 1-0 lead, despite being outshot by BU 12-5. This trend continued in the second as the Terriers outshot the Wildcats 19-9, but UNH scored twice. UNH played an aggressive game at both ends of the ice, not giving BU any time or space and forcing most BU shots to be quick and low quality. In my opinion the Wildcats played with much more determination and intensity than BU. The Terriers were almost in cruise control mode while UNH was in desperation/playoff mode, as they fight for the final playoff spot. The major difference in the game was in goal, as Kayley Herman played very well (and was also lucky on occasion), while Alissa Fromkin had her worst game since she lost to BC back in November.

Sean
 
BU at UNH

BU at UNH

I was struck by how different this game seemed to be when compared to the game at Walter Brown on Thursday. On Thursday I thought that UNH was able to pressure BU in both zones and take away their ability to make plays for most of the game. However, on the larger ice surface BU was able to use the extra space to get away from the Wildcat players pressuring them and make plays. So the Terriers were able to control the puck better and pressure UNH more when compared to Thursday. I also thought that the wider surface allowed BU to use their speed when transitioning from defense to offense well and also to spread out the UNH defense. Overall BU had fewer shots, but I thought that they were generally of a higher quality than Thursday’s and I think that Kayley Herman played better than she did on Thursday. For BU Kerrin Sperry played was in goal and she had a much better game than Fromkin had on Thursday, which in my opinion was an important difference.

Sean
 
Re: Boston University Women's Hockey

Agree that Sperry is a real difference maker not only with the play in net but also with the vibe of the entire team in general. I think the team is a lot more confident, calm and collected when she is playing. She's played great in her last few string of games and hopefully she continues her mastery of BC on Tuesday in what is arguably the biggest game of the year so far.
 
Beanpot First Round: BU vs BC

Beanpot First Round: BU vs BC

Similar UNH at Walter Brown (among others), BC played an aggressive game at both ends of the ice, not giving BU any time or space. At one point BC had three forecheckers behind the BU goal line attempting to get a turnover. On defense they forced many of BU’s shots to be quick, with no one in position to get to the numerous rebounds. BU's top three lines were all new due to the injuries to Holze and Poulin. For the third straight game a different player filled in for Holze, while Poulin’s and Lorms’ lines were completely mixed up. With only two days to practice this showed, as many passes were off the mark throughout the game. BU played well on defense for much of the game, but defensive breakdowns lead directly to both BC goals. Both were passes out from the corner to an uncovered player in the slot directly in front to the net. They were both bang-bang plays and Sperry had virtually no time to react and was not able to stop the puck.

The loss is disappointing, but I thought that overall the team played very well despite missing two players, including their best player, and having new lines with limited practices together. More important is how the team adjusts and plays this weekend, as well as the rest of the regular season and the playoffs.

Sean
 
NU at BU

NU at BU

Over 1000 fans showed up at Walter Brown Arena for senior night, the 4th Annual Chili Fest and to watch the Terriers defeat the Huskies. Similar to many of BU’s opponents this season Northeastern played an aggressive game at both ends of the ice, forechecking and trying to not give BU any time or space when they had the puck. And once again it worked to some degree, but the Terriers were able to adjust and find open space and open players to make plays for much of the game. NU was also physical and did a good job of disrupting BU in their own zone early in the game and it lead to several chances, but no goals. Holly Lorms scored unassisted on a nice play just over five minutes into the game and from that point on I thought BU outplayed the Huskies until NU was able to score an empty net goal after Sperry and a Huskie got tangled up behind the BU net. After that the two teams played evenly for the rest of the second period, but BU still looked to be in control. The Huskies came out with the same intensity to start the third as they did in the first, and this time it paid off as they scored 2 quick goals to tie the game. After a timeout the Terriers settled down and pressured NU’s net, but Jenelle Kohanchuk was called for cross-checking during a pile-up in the Huskies’ crease. Despite being down a player the Terriers continued to pressure the NU net and just over a minute into the penalty kill Lauren Cherewyk scored to give BU the lead for good. Once again the lines were juggled, but I thought that they played well together tonight, with most passes on the mark and players in position to collect rebounds and loose pucks. Defensively BU played one of their poorer games as NU was able to get more shots on net then any opponent since Harvard, although many were poor quality in my opinion. Sperry did not look spectacular in net, although I think she looked very good the last minute or two of the game as NU pressed for the tying goal. More of a gritty win then a pretty win, but one I think BU needed right now.

Sean
 
Re: Boston University Women's Hockey

Congrats to the 2011 Hockey East Regular Season Champs! Definitely excited for some postseason action in WBA. Hopefully everyone will be back from injuries by then.
 
BU at NU

BU at NU

Once again family obligations keep me from attending an in-town away game, so I don’t have any personal observations about the play on the ice. All I can do is make a few comments based on the game recaps and box score information. Sperry started in net, her fourth straight start, but first back-to-back games since facing St. Lawrence and Clarkson in October. I think that Coach Durocher did this to both give BU its best chance to win the game and to get her playing back-to-back games in preparation for the playoffs. Sperry responded well to the challenge, allowing only one goal late in the game. The forward lines were changed back to the combinations used against BC in the first round of the Beanpot. On the scoreboard they were slightly better than Friday’s, but without having seen the game I don’t know how well the lines played together. What I think is important is that Jenn Wakefield scored 2 more goals, and now has scored in three of the last four games after a four game drought. Also, Holly Lorms stepped up again and scored 2 goals, giving her four in the three games since Marie-Philip Poulin was injured. It appears that she has been asked to switch from what I have previously called a checking line to a scoring line and she has responded extremely well.

Sean
 
Beanpot Consolation: BU vs NU

Beanpot Consolation: BU vs NU

You could tell that both teams didn’t want to be playing this game as there was none of the intensity and desire I have seen in games played the past several weeks. Both teams started slowly, with Northeastern picking up its level of play during the period and getting the better in shots after 20 minutes. In the second BU picked up its level of play and in my opinion outplayed the Huskies, taking a 2-0 lead after two periods. However, after a quick goal to start the third it looked to me like BU went into a “play out the game and don’t get injured mode”, while Northeastern continued to play at the same level they had since early in the game. The Huskies hard work paid off as they were able to score three goals in just over 4 minutes in the middle of the period. After that the Terriers seemed to perk up some and the two teams played much more evenly the rest of regulation. In overtime it looked to me like BU decided to go for the win, while NU was playing for the tie.

Kerrin Sperry started in net, which surprised me, as I thought Alissa Fromkin or maybe even Braly Hiller, to see how she would play for a complete game, would get the start. However it appears that Coach Durocher wants Sperry to get as much play as she can as before the playoffs. So I now expect Sperry to start both games at Maine (which means that will likely not happen). In what I consider a positive development, Jenn Wakefield and Holly Lorms both scored again, while Britt Hergesheimer scored her first of the season. I am slightly concerned that the defense allowed Northeastern to have such high shot totals each game. However, in my opinion most were not high quality chances and I think Sperry handled the extra work well.

Sean
 
Hockey East Semifinal vs Northeastern

Hockey East Semifinal vs Northeastern

Both Marie-Philip Poulin and Taylor Holze (as an extra forward) were back in the lineup, but I must admit I never noticed Holze on the ice during the game. Poulin, on the other hand, I did and I thought she played a great game. In my opinion she was just as good as before her injury when it came to skating and even her playmaking, but she was lacking her finishing touch, although she had a few great chances that Schelling made fabulous saves on. However, even with Poulin back I thought that Jenn Wakefield was the best BU player of the game. She has been consistent all season, but I think she has elevated her game since the injury to Poulin.

After a two week layoff BU came out fired up and put 25 shots on Schelling in the first period, but she was up to the task, stopping all but one. I expected more of the same in the second, but BU came out flat and Northeastern was able to control the second period, and also scored two goals less than five minutes apart to take the lead. Wakefield scored her second goal of the game a few minutes later to even it up heading into the third. In the third Northeastern was able to get an early goal to retake the lead and put pressure on BU. The Terriers responded and were able control play much of the period and attack the NU net, but Schelling held firm, making another 15 saves. The Huskies had several counter-attacks and were able to score another goal on a 2 on 1 break with just under seven minutes left in the game.

Overall I think Sperry played one of her poorer games. I don’t like to blame goalies (something that goes way back to when the Bruins lost to the Sabres and Andy Moog was the scapegoat), but I also have said to others that goalies have to make the saves when the game is on the online. Saturday Schelling did and Sperry didn’t. BU also only dressed five defensemen and I think that hurt in the third, especially as the Terriers were pressing to score the tying goal and Northeastern had a few odd man rushes.

Sean
 
Re: Hockey East Semifinal vs Northeastern

Re: Hockey East Semifinal vs Northeastern

Sean Pickett said:
Both Marie-Philip Poulin and Taylor Holze (as an extra forward) were back in the lineup, but I must admit I never noticed Holze on the ice during the game. Poulin, on the other hand, I did and I thought she played a great game. In my opinion she was just as good as before her injury when it came to skating and even her playmaking, but she was lacking her finishing touch, although she had a few great chances that Schelling made fabulous saves on. However, even with Poulin back I thought that Jenn Wakefield was the best BU player of the game. She has been consistent all season, but I think she has elevated her game since the injury to Poulin.

After a two week layoff BU came out fired up and put 25 shots on Schelling in the first period, but she was up to the task, stopping all but one. I expected more of the same in the second, but BU came out flat and Northeastern was able to control the second period, and also scored two goals less than five minutes apart to take the lead. Wakefield scored her second goal of the game a few minutes later to even it up heading into the third. In the third Northeastern was able to get an early goal to retake the lead and put pressure on BU. The Terriers responded and were able control play much of the period and attack the NU net, but Schelling held firm, making another 15 saves. The Huskies had several counter-attacks and were able to score another goal on a 2 on 1 break with just under seven minutes left in the game.

Overall I think Sperry played one of her poorer games. I don’t like to blame goalies (something that goes way back to when the Bruins lost to the Sabres and Andy Moog was the scapegoat), but I also have said to others that goalies have to make the saves when the game is on the online. Saturday Schelling did and Sperry didn’t. BU also only dressed five defensemen and I think that hurt in the third, especially as the Terriers were pressing to score the tying goal and Northeastern had a few odd man rushes.

Sean
Click to expand...

I think that BU didn't respond well to the pressure of playing from behind in a big game. They iced the puck more trying to make long connecting passes, and started to stray from the tape to tape, leave 'em in the dust plays they are capable of.

Northeastern played a very intelligent game after they got the lead - keep taking away BU's time and space, and, very impressive for a team with not a lot of recent tourney experience, they carried to the red line, got the puck deep, and just put pressure on BU's breakout. Have I already said I was impressed? They were cool, calm, and collected, and put BU off their game. As they say in MA, smaht:) hockey.
 
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Re: Hockey East Semifinal vs Northeastern

Re: Hockey East Semifinal vs Northeastern

DC78-82 said:
I think that BU didn't respond well to the pressure of playing from behind in a big game. They iced the puck more trying to make long connecting passes, and started to stray from the tape to tape, leave 'em in the dust plays they are capable of.

Northeastern played a very intelligent game after they got the lead - keep taking away BU's time and space, and, very impressive for a team with not a lot of recent tourney experience, they carried to the red line, got the puck deep, and just put pressure on BU's breakout. Have I already said I was impressed? They were cool, calm, and collected, and put BU off their game. As they say in MA, smaht:) hockey.
Click to expand...
I agree, but I didn't notice nearly as much as several other games I saw (and which I mentioned in some of my posts).

Sean
 
NCAA Quarterfinal vs Mercyhurst

NCAA Quarterfinal vs Mercyhurst

After two straight losses BU started slow and Mercyhurst came out fast. The result was the Lakers controlling play for much of the first period and outshooting the Terriers 8-1 before Wakefield scored on a beautiful play. Despite the goal Mercyhurst continued to control play and it paid off when they evened the score just over 4 minutes later when Agosta scored on a nice wrister. After controlling play in the first, and outshooting BU 15-4, Mercyhurst looked as if they would continue to control play in the second. However BU started to even it up and after Poulin scored to make it 2-1 the Terriers took control of play for the rest of the period. In the third Mercyhurst pressured BU in their own zone and causing the Terriers to take a penalty. On the ensuing powerplay the Lakers did a good job and Agosta scored her second of the game to tie it up again. At this point BU responded and carried play in the Mercyhurst zone, scoring the game-winning goal less than 2 minutes later to retake the lead. After being unable to do that the last two games, it was great to see the Terriers do this in this game. The Lakers continued to pressure BU the rest of the game, but the defense and Sperry where up to the task and Wakefield sealed the win with an empty netter with 12 second remaining.

Coach Durocher was back to 3 defensive pairings which I liked much better than the 5-D system he used in the Hockey East semifinal. The defense also stayed in position much more in this game and did a great job of not giving the Lakers time or space in the BU zone. Sperry was also back on the top of her game, making the saves she needed to make in the game. I also notice that she did a much better job of controlling the puck and taking the whistles more often than in recent games. On offense Poulin looked even better than last week and Wakefield continued her great play. Holze was on the fourth line in the game and unlike last week I saw her taking regular shifts at the start of the game. As the game went on it appeared to me that the fourth line saw less ice time, but that the other lines continued to take regular shifts.

Sean
 
Re: Boston University Women's Hockey

Thanks to the BU Athletic department for this great video:

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yJl4Y5Myf2M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Re: Boston University Women's Hockey

Hux said:
Thanks to the BU Athletic department for this great video:



Nice angle. I always notice when the scored upon players give a tap to their goalie after -- didn't happen here except for someone coming in on the line change. Am i wrong to expect that?
Click to expand...
 
Re: NCAA Quarterfinal vs Mercyhurst

Re: NCAA Quarterfinal vs Mercyhurst

Yupe1228 said:
Sean,

Do you know if there is any TV coverage for the frozen four?
Click to expand...
As you have probably read on the Frozen Four TV thread the games are only being streamed from ncaa.com

Sean
 
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