Despite a strong run to the first Hockey East regular season title in program history, the 10th place UW women's ice hockey team (Hockey East 23-7-5, 19-4-4) suffered the most. The team that gave it was the Boston team. The College Eagles (15-13-7 Hockey East, 13-9-5 Hockey East) will visit Toscano Family Ice Forum tonight with the winner advancing to the Hockey East Championship Game.
The Huskies opened the postseason Saturday afternoon at home against No. 10 seed Holy Cross. Forward Jada Habisch finished the game with two points, including one goal and an assist. Senior captain Collin Tormala scored his sixth goal of the season, and freshman Ashley Allard also contributed with her sixth goal. Junior forward Brianna Ware gave Connecticut a 4-1 cushion in the second period. The Huskies advanced to the semifinal round with little trouble, despite allowing two goals from junior goaltender Tia Chang.
On Friday night, Boston College hosted No. 5 seed Providence College, resulting in a thriller. When the Friars came on early in the second period, Boston College sophomore forward Kate Hamm scored her third goal of the season. It was her first time in over a month. The game will go into overtime with the score tied. Just under 17.5 minutes into overtime, freshman forward Sammy Tabor made a big play to advance the Eagles to the semifinal round.
On Friday, Hockey East announced its women's all-star team.
UW had two players on the first team: Havis and defenseman Kamryn Wong. Wong was also the Army ROTC Hockey East Defender of the Year runner-up, and Habisch was named the Hockey East Three Star Award runner-up.
Chan was named to the second team and was the second-best goalie according to the league's 10 head coaches.
Senior forward Kathryn Stockdale was named the conference's Defensive Forward of the Year as part of the honors bestowed by the league last week.
Boston University did not have any players named to the first or third teams, but Tabor was the highest-rated freshman in the conference and earned a spot on the Hockey East All-Stars' second team.
Tabor joins defenseman Molly Jordan and forward Julia Pellerin on the Pro Ambitions Hockey East All-Rookie team and was the only unanimous selection.
Outside of their star players, the Huskies are keeping an eye on forward Sammy Smiliani, who ranks second on the team in assists and points with 15 and 26 points.
Boston College goaltender Grace Campbell is averaging 2.45 goals per game, with 18 of her 83 goals coming on the power play. The sophomore from Kensington, Maryland boasts a .922 save percentage.
Meanwhile, the goaltending duo of Chan and junior Megan Warrener has proven to be more successful.
Chan is averaging 1.46 goals per game and has a save percentage of .945.
Despite Chan playing more in the crease, the Ontario native is allowing 1.01 goals per game and has a .951 save percentage.
Head coach Chris McKenzie will likely rely on Zhang, who represented China at the Olympics, but he has plenty of great players to find the back of the net in this important match.
Two players on Boston College's roster are from Connecticut and will return to the Nutmeg State tonight. Junior defenseman Annaka Mettler is from New Canaan and Jordan is from Berlin, Conn.
The Huskies haven't had a good record against Boston College in the past. The Eagles hold a 47-25-11 lead in the all-time series, and UW has lost three of the past four meetings. The University of Connecticut has yet to beat Boston University in their new home. The last home win was achieved on November 4, 2022 at the former Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum, now known as the UW Volleyball Center.
Connecticut's 2022-23 season ended in Chestnut Hill, Mass., where they lost to the Eagles in the Hockey East Tournament quarterfinal round. Tonight, he's a chance for revenge for UConn.
The Huskies are two wins away from winning the program's first conference tournament. If they do so, the program will make it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in its history. UConn has advanced to the championship game five times in program history, but never won.
On the other side of the bracket, the University of New Hampshire takes on Northeastern University, which will be decided by the time the UW game begins. The two winners of tonight's game will face off for the Hockey East Championship.
UW will host Boston College tonight at 7 p.m. at the Toscano Family Ice Forum and will be televised on NESN. The other semifinal game will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Matthews Arena in Boston, Massachusetts and will be televised on NESN and ESPN+.
