From what I've heard, there were a number of factors that impacted recruiting that hit all around the same time.
I've heard allegations of negative recruiting from competing schools. Much of these allegations have come from the Minnesota folk on the boards, many who have expressed issues with McCloskey, based on what they hear around the rinks, etc.
From the Ontario folk, I've heard that Hockey Canada has actively steered recruits away from UNH. This allegedly stems from the first Frozen Fenway game, when Kelly Paton and Courtney Birchard chose to play there instead of with the U-22s in the Four Nations tournament. HC supposedly blames McCloskey. The biggest name I've heard referenced is Marie-Philip Poulin, who ended up at BU, and was an Olympian as a high schooler.
It would seem that the women's team, as has been alleged of the men, has had problems with the Admissions dept. Specifically, I have heard of a national team caliber goalie recruit who was denied admission (heard from someone close to the team at which she landed), necessitating a late offer to another player. Like the men (Stafford, Charlebois), the women has had a couple girls become academically ineligible, so perhaps this is part of the reason for Admission's tighter standards.
And lastly, while many have mention McCloskey's British Columbia connections in regards to recruiting, those don't help much in the women's game. Most of the top Canadian players come from Ontario and to a lesser extent, Quebec.
Regardless of the reason, it almost seems as if the well is poisoned. And if that is true, I wonder if it can be fixed. At least Jamie Wood brings some Minnesota connections with him.