The two Husky packs, #3 Northeastern and UConn, meet for the first time this season in a home and home series this weekend.
Hockey East Women's Weekend Preview
News and notes from the upcoming weekend of Hockey East action.

#3 Northeastern vs. UConn (home and home)

- The two Husky packs, #3 Northeastern and UConn, meet for the first time this season in a home and home series this weekend. UConn sits just three places behind Northeastern in the Army ROTC Hockey East Standings at fourth behind Boston College and Boston University. Last season, Northeastern swept UConn and the Boston-based Huskies are 9-1-0 in their last 10 contests.

- Over the weekend the UConn Huskies split their series in New Hampshire. In game one, the Huskies shut out the Wildcats, 4-0, behind senior goaltender Morgan Fisher's (Vernon, Conn.) third shutout of the season with 30 saves, before allowing just goal in a 1-0 overtime loss. Fisher stopped a combined 62 of 63 shots throughout the weekend earning herself Defensive Player of the Week accolades.

- The Northeastern Huskies also enjoyed standout goaltending this weekend from junior Aerin Frankel (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.). The netminder made history when she recorded shutout Boston College in back-to-back games, becoming the first goalie in NCAA history to blank the Eagles in consecutive games. She also pitched perfect games in all three regular season games over Boston College. The Hockey East Player of the Week made a total of 51 saves over the weekend and notched her NCAA-best sixth shutout of the season.


#8 Boston University vs. Holy Cross (home and home)

- #8 Boston University face Holy Cross for the first time this season, kicking off the home and home series in Boston Friday night. Last season the Terriers swept the Crusaders despite Holy Cross' goaltending efforts from then-freshman Jada Brenon (Pendleton, N.Y.) and then-sophomore Julia Pelletier (Pelham, N.H.) making a combined 103 saves across three games.

- Holy Cross took home one point in the series against Maine over the weekend from a 0-0 draw in Orono. Brenon made 40 saves, including 17 in the third frame. She currently leads the conference with 470 saves in league play so far this season.

- Boston University's last outing was a split weekend against Providence College. The Terriers fell short on the road, 2-1, but came back home to take a 4-1 decision over the Friars. Playing a crucial defensive role was junior goaltender Corinne Schroeder (Elm Creek, Man.), who stopped all 14 shots on net in the third period, as well as freshman defenseman Nadia Mattivi (Baselga di Pine, Trento, Italy) who scored the insurance goal and tallied her second marker in three games.


Providence at New Hampshire

- Providence College travels to Durham, New Hampshire for a two-game series to finish their regular season set. October 26 was the last time the two battled and New Hampshire secured the win on Friar ice in Providence. The Wildcats took control of the game after a scoreless first period, outscoring Providence, 6-2, including four unanswered goals. Senior forward Carlee Turner (Scottsdale, Ariz.) led the team with three points (2g, 1a) and sophomore goaltender Ava Boutilier (Charlottetown, P.E.I.) made 16 saves in the final period of the game.

- Last weekend UNH split a series at home with UConn. After being shut out Friday night by the Huskies, 4-0, the Wildcats came back Saturday to secure the regular season record, 2-1-0, with a 1-0 overtime victory. The unassisted game-winning goal came from junior defenseman Maddie Traux (Gardner, Mass.) two minutes into the extra time.

- Providence College also split their weekend in a home and home series against #8 Boston University. The Friars began their weekend in Providence with a 2-1 win over the Terriers, off goals in the first two frames from senior defenseman Avery Fransoo (North Battleford, Sask.) and junior forward Hayley Lunny (Bedford, N.Y.) The Friars defense held off a BU comeback and ended the Terriers seven-game unbeaten streak.


Merrimack at Maine

- Merrimack College hits the road for the third straight time in 2020, traveling to Orono for two games at Alfond Arena. Earlier this season, the Warriors and Black Bears met on November 8 in North Andover, an eventual 4-3 overtime win for the Warriors that marked their first conference win of the season. The come-from-behind victory was clinched thanks to senior forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis (Brampton, Ont.) netted her 100th career point when she scored midway through overtime. The Warriors have currently won their last five outings with Maine.

- In Maine's most recent outing, the Black Bears secured three out of the four points at stake in their series against Holy Cross. Maine scored three goals on five shots in the second period of an eventual 4-2 victory. Sophomore forward Liga Miljone (Riga, Latvia) picked up three points (1g, 2a) while freshman defenseman Ella MacLean (Antigonish, N.S.) and senior forward Tereza Vanišová (Strakonice, Czech Republic) both tallied two assists.


Vermont at Boston College

- Vermont travels to Boston to face the Eagles in a two-game series in Conte Forum. Earlier this season on October 20, then-#7 Boston College played one game in Vermont and came home with a 4-3 win over the Catamounts. Freshman forward Hannah Bilka (Coppel, Texas) scored two goals including the power-play game-winner thanks to helpers on both from sophomore forward Kelly Browne (Burlington, Mass.).

- Since the 2010-11 season, the Eagles have not lost a game to Vermont, although Boston College is currently on a seven-game winless streak (0-6-1.)

- Vermont is rolling off a recent win over Merrimack, 4-2, at home last Saturday. Junior forward Kristina Shanahan (Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que.) tallied a goal and a helper to extend her three-game goal streak and sophomore goaltender Blanka Škodová (Šternberk, Czech Republic) made a career high 30 saves.