Women's Hockey East Championship Preview
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The league champion will be crowned this weekend at the 16th Annual Women's Hockey East Championship at Matthews Arena

No. 1 Boston College vs. No. 7 UConn - Sat. 3/3 at Matthews Arena

- The Hockey East Regular Season champion Boston College Eagles head to the Hockey East semifinals for the eighth straight year. During that span, Boston College has advanced to the championship game five times.

- This marks the fifth straight year that the Eagles have earned the top seed heading into the tournament and will look to make a run for their third consecutive Women's Hockey East Tournament title.

- During the quarterfinal round, Boston College knocked off Vermont in two games, defeating the Catamounts by scores of 3-1 and 6-1. Goaltender Katie Burt (Lynn, Mass.) turned away 60 shots over the weekend en route to the sweep. Her 13 wins in postseason play are the most of any goaltender and she is just 17 saves away from setting the career mark for most WHEA Tournament stops.

- UConn enters the semifinals after knocking off the #2 Friars in the quarterfinals. The Huskies dropped the first game of the series, but came back in game two to shutout Providence, 3-0, and force a game three. In the deciding contest, team leading scorer Natalie Snodgrass (Eagan, Minn.) posted two goals, including the game-winning tally with just 2:35 to play to send the Huskies on to the semifinals. It is the first time a seven seed has advanced to the tournament semifinals.

- The Huskies will look to goaltender Annie Belanger (Sherbrooke, Ont.) to backstop the team as they make a run for their third appearance in the Women's Hockey East Tournament championship game. The senior posted 83 saves in the quarterfinal round, including a 23-save shutout, her fourth of the year, to help UConn advance.


No. 3 Maine vs. No. 4 Northeastern - Sat. 3/3 at Matthews Arena

- One year after not qualifying for the Women's Hockey East Tournament, #3 Maine is headed to the semifinals. This marks the Black Bears' first appearance in the semis since the 2006 season when only the top four teams advanced to the tournament.

- During the quarterfinal round of the tournament, the Black Bears played host to Boston University in a series that went to three games. Maine took the first game 3-2, but the Terriers responded in game two with a 4-1 win to force game three. In game three, they found themselves down 3-0 with just over fifteen minutes left to play, but responded to take the game 4-3 in overtime. It was t he first two WHEA Tournament wins in Maine program history.

- Maine turns to sophomore Tereza Vanisova (Strakonice, Czech Republic/16g, 29a) and senior Brooke Stacey (Kahnawake, Que./13g, 17a) to lead the offensive charge. The two forwards have combined for 75 points on the season and scored all four goals in the decisive Game 3 of the quarterfinals.

- Northeastern returns to the semifinals for the seventh straight year and looks to get back to the championship game for the second year in a row. In last year's Women's Hockey East Tournament championship game, the Huskies dropped a 2-1 decision in overtime to reigning champion Boston College. Northeastern has never claimed the WHEA Tournament title.

- The Huskies boast four players who have tallied over 25 points this season, including leading scorer McKenna Brand (Nevis, Minn.). The senior has 13 goals and 18 assists on the season, her second straight campaign with 30 or more points.

- Northeastern and Maine have never met in the Women's Hockey East tournament. Entering this weekend's semifinal, the Black Bears hold a 2-1-0 advantage over the Huskies in the three games during the regular season.


16th Annual Women's Hockey East Championship - Sun. 3/4 at Matthews Arena

- Last year's Championship was held at Boston University's Walter Brown Arena. The game saw the meeting of two Boston schools, as #1 Boston College took on #4 Northeastern. For the third time in league history, the championship game was decided in overtime, when then-senior Andie Anastos (Farmington Hills, Mich.) tallied the game winner for Boston College to secure the Eagles' second straight tournament championship. This year, the Eagles will look to earn their fourth overall and third straight title. They are 3-2 in the championship game and have an overall tournament record of 20-9, the second-most tournament wins of any WHEA program (BU, 23).

- Maine looks to make a run for the championship for the first time in program history. The Black Bears are 2-12-0 in tournament play and had never won a postseason game prior to this year.

- Northeastern is playing for its first Women's Hockey East Tournament Championship, with the benefit of home ice at Matthews Arena. The Huskies have advanced to the championship game three times in the past but have come up short in each effort.

- UConn returns to the semifinals for the eighth time and will look to make their third appearance in the title game. The Huskies have posted a 9-14-0 record in tournament play.

- Each game of the 2018 Women's Hockey East championship weekend can be seen across New England on NESNplus. The second semifinal and championship game will be aired live, while the first semifinal will be tape delayed at 10pm. On championship Sunday, NESNplus will air all three games consecutively, beginning at 9:30am.