It virtually felt like a David and Goliath state of affairs for Maeve Carey and her Boston College teammates Tuesday evening, going up in opposition to one of many prime groups within the nation.
But, you’ll be able to all the time count on the surprising at any time when the Girls’s Beanpot rolls round, and the previous Austin Prep star emerged as a hero on the grandest of levels. The BU senior sniped the game-winning aim with two minutes left in additional time, because the Terriers (7-11-3) shocked archnemesis Northeastern at Walter Brown Area, 2-1, to advance to the championship.
BU advances to its third consecutive Girls’s Beanpot last. Every of the final two seasons, the Terriers fell brief to Northeastern, which had gained three straight Beanpots. This time, BU will face Harvard, which defeated Boston School in the matinee semifinal, 2-1, subsequent Tuesday at TD Backyard (7:30 p.m.).
“I believe we method each recreation the identical,” Carey stated. “We’ve simply obtained to stay to our gameplan, and play BU hockey. That’s what obtained us by way of.”
BU taking over Northeastern was a rematch of the 2025 Girls’s Beanpot championship, which the Huskies gained, 4-0. This time round, it felt just like the Huskies had been the prohibitive favourite coming into play, ranked No. 6 nationally by USA In the present day’s polls, and No. 7 by the USCHO.
However BU put Northeastern on upset alert simply 4:28 into play. Freshman left winger Lexie Bertelsen corralled a unfastened puck in entrance of the Northeastern web, then slid a shot residence because the Terriers took an early 1-0 benefit.
As they’ve finished time and time once more this winter, nonetheless, Northeastern (16-6-0) responded. With 9:25 to go within the opening interval, Lily Shannon ripped a shot on web. Her first try skipped off a pad, and landed proper again on her stick. The previous Governor’s Academy standout made the Terriers pay with a second bid, firing a bullet residence for her fifteenth aim of the season as Northeastern knotted issues at 1-all.
The rating held effectively into the ultimate interval of play. The 2 rivals continued to commerce photographs on reverse ends, with Mari Pietersen standing tall in web for BU. Lisa Jonsson (32 saves) constantly countered with implausible saves of her personal within the cage for Northeastern.
Fittingly, neither faculty was capable of finding the web within the third, and the sport was sure for sudden demise additional time. Simply moments into the additional session, the Huskies had been assessed a minor for slashing, establishing Carey’s heroics.
Along with her workforce skating 4-on-4, the Gloucester native regarded for a capturing lane. She noticed her alternative, and fired a prayer. The shot try ricocheted into the nook of the web, and the Terriers stormed the ice.
“I used to be in shock,” Carey stated. “I took a second, sort of paused, and I used to be like, ‘Oh my God, we simply gained.’”
An unbelievable second certainly for the Gloucester native, and an excellent higher story. After her time at Austin Prep, Carey performed two seasons at Stonehill earlier than transferring to BU final 12 months. The sport-winner was her sixth aim of the season.
“It’s actually particular,” stated Carey. “I’m simply actually completely satisfied that I obtained to do that surrounded by all my teammates and coaches that assist me. They’ve actually supported me, actually the entire journey.”
Pietersen completed with 35 saves to gasoline the Terriers into additional time. Sydney Healey, Riley Walsh and Greta Henderson had been credited with assists within the victory.
Ought to BU win subsequent week it might mark simply the third Girls’s Beanpot title in program historical past, and the primary for the college since 2019.
“With this group, I haven’t seen this in a extremely very long time – exterior distraction doesn’t actually appear to matter,” stated Terriers coach Tara Watchorn. “I believe as a result of we went by way of some adversity early on, we’re simply excited to get wins, it doesn’t matter what recreation it’s. I believe the Beanpot is one thing you guys circle in your calendar actually early. Desirous to get a win, desirous to play at residence in entrance of an incredible crowd, and to go to the Beanpot finals is sufficient motivation.”
