Terriers Fall to Harvard 2-1 in Overtime in Women’s Beanpot Final
Dream of winning a third Beanpot title ends in gut-wrenching finish for women’s hockey team
A tense crowd of BU fans during the second period of the Women’s Beanpot championship game. Photo by Julia Jacobsen
Terriers Fall to Harvard 2-1 in Overtime in Women’s Beanpot Final
Dream of winning a third Beanpot title ends in gut-wrenching finish for women’s hockey team
Despite outplaying Harvard throughout regulation in Tuesday night’s Dunkin’ Women’s Beanpot final, the Boston University women’s hockey team fell 2-1 in overtime.
It was Harvard freshman Carla McSweeney who broke the Terriers’ hearts before a crowd of 10,175 fans at TD Garden in the 47th annual Beanpot.
McSweeney potted the winning goal on a penalty shot after being tripped by Keira Healey (CAS’28) just 1:17 into the five-minute, 3-on-3 overtime.
“In preparation for this game, I can say myself, our staff and team prepared for a lot of moments,” head coach Tara Watchorn (Sargent’12) said postgame. “I didn’t think through what a penalty shot in overtime was going to look like.”
Tuesday’s defeat was gut-wrenching for a BU team that dominated the majority of the game, outshooting the Crimson 47-15 in the contest.
A fast start was critical for the Terriers, who, unlike Harvard, had played in a Beanpot final at TD Garden previously. BU generated the game’s first scoring chance when twins Luisa Weicke (CAS’26) and Lilli Welcke (CAS’26) broke out on a 2-on-1 in transition, but Crimson sophomore goaltender Ainsley Tuffy made the save.
Harvard junior Gwyn Lapp’s first goal of the season opened the scoring for Harvard just 1:34 into regulation. Sophomore Emily Hamann threw the puck toward goal from the corner, but Terrier netminder Mari Pietersen (Sargent’27) lost sight of it, and Lapp tapped it home.
BU remained unfazed despite the early deficit, controlling the pace of play after the goal and earning a power play at 8:47 of the opening frame.
The Terriers cashed in on their second consecutive player advantage after not having scored on the power play in the two months leading up to Tuesday night’s game. Greta Henderson (COM’27) redirected a Maeve Kelly (CAS’26) shot from the point at 10:27 to get BU on the board and even the score.
The Crimson made a late push in the first period, but the Terriers were the better team in the first 20 minutes of play, outshooting Harvard 13-6.
Taking advantage of four minor penalties by Harvard, BU dominated the second period, but failed to capitalize on the power play. BU outshot Harvard 19-6 in the frame and finished the game just 1-for-7 with the man advantage.
“I thought we generated some good looks, and we’re going against a goalie that’s tough to score on,” Watchorn said. “I think managing just how we felt about it and how the shifts in between the power plays, I would have liked to see that better.”
Tuffy, who entered Tuesday’s contest with a .952 save percentage for the Crimson—the third-best mark in the NCAA—was outstanding in the middle 20 minutes, keeping the Terriers off the board.
BU moved the puck at will, not only during the 40 percent of the period spent on the player advantage, but at even strength as well. Both Weickes created more scoring chances in the frame than Harvard as a team, using their speed, stickhandling, and connection with each other to their advantage.
The Terriers’ ultra-aggressive penalty kill created a point-blank chance at 3:35 of the third period. Riley Walsh (CAS’26) intercepted an errant pass in the slot, and after a nifty move, fired a backhander that squirted through Tuffy, but a defender swiped it off the goal line to keep the score knotted.
Again, BU dominated the third period, possessing the puck for long stretches in the offensive zone, but Tuffy stood tall—finishing the night with 46 saves. The Terriers outshot the Crimson 15-2 in the final period of regulation. Pietersen ended with just 14 saves.
“We had a lot of control of the game,” Watchorn said. “I think we could have pulled away sooner.”