Put on Your Dancing Shoes (NCAA Tournament Regional Preview)
The Terrier women take on the Clarkson Golden Knights in the regional semifinals, with the winner facing the Wisconsin Badgers
For the first time since 2015, the Terriers are playing in the NCAA Tournament. BU (Hockey East Champions (24-11-2, HEA (2nd): 18-7-2)) take on the Clarkson Golden Knights of the ECAC with the winner facing off with the #1 Seed Wisconsin Badgers.
Clarkson
(24-12-2, ECAC (4th): 13-8-1)
The Terriers take on the Golden Knights (March 13th, 8pm) at Wisconsin’s LaBahn Arena in the regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA National Collegiate Ice Hockey Tournament, with the winner facing Wisconsin for a spot in the Frozen Four.
Clarkson’s season was a story of two halves. The Golden Knights started the season winning their first 6 games, followed by a three game losing streak at the hands of Boston College and Quinnipiac. Clarkson did not lose a game the rest of 2024, ended the first half 16-3-1, which included winning the Smashville Showcase against St. Thomas and Merrimack.
The 2nd half saw the Golden Knights’ fortunes turn. The team finished January 3-6-0, though one of those wins came in a split of fellow tournament team, St. Lawrence. Clarkson turned things around in February, winning 3 of 5 and unbeaten in 4 straight heading into the ECAC Tournament. In the tournament, the team lost their first quarterfinal game to Quinnipiac before winning the next two to earn a spot in the semifinals. In the semifinals, Clarkson dominated shots 55-42 but was unable to capitalize and fell to Cornell 1-2 in triple overtime.
The Golden Knights are led by senior defender and Patty Kazmaier Finalist Haley Winn, who leads the team in assists (31) and points (45). Junior forward Sena Catterall leads the team in goals (18) but has not scored since recording a hat trick vs. Harvard on February 14th. Anne Cherkowski (GR, F) is second on the team in goals (16), assists (26), and points (42). In net, senior Holly Gruber (1.39 GAA, .930 SV%) has earned the top job after splitting with junior Julia Minotti (1.67 GAA, .915 SV%) for the first few months of the season.
This will Clarkson’s third straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 12th in the last 13 years—a span which includes 3 National Championships (2014, 2017, 2018).
The Terriers come in as Hockey East Champions, an unexpected result for a team picked to finish 6th in the preseason coaches poll. The title came after three straight overtime games in the tournament. It will be BU’s 7th NCAA Tournament appearance, and first in a decade, with their last coming in 2015.
The two teams have faced off in the NCAA Tournament just one other time in 2013. The Terriers hosted the National Quarterfinal game at Walter Brown Arena, winning 5-3 en route to their 2nd title game appearance—BU fell to Minnesota 6 to 3 at Ridder Arena.
Records
5-3-1: vs. Clarkson
4-6-0: in the NCAA Tournament
Stats
In their last NCAA matchup, BU Athletics Hall of Famer Marie-Philip Poulin scored the opening goal
This will be the Terriers second straight tournament game at LaBaun Arena, losing to Wisconsin there in 2015
Wisconsin
(35-1-2, WCHA (1st): 25-1-2)
Whoever makes it out of the regional semifinal will have a tough task on their hands, facing off with #1 team in the nation, Wisconsin Badgers for a spot in the Frozen Four (March 15th, 3pm).
The WCHA Champion Badgers, stormed through the regular season. Winning their first 13 games, before finally falling to Ohio State on November 16th (2-3). Wisconsin avenged that loss by going unbeaten in their next 24 games, with their only blemishes, a shootout loss to Ohio State on January 4th, at Wrigley Field and a shootout win at home to St. Cloud State on January 26th. The Badgers are averaging 5.45 goals per game while allowing just 1.11 per game.
Wisconsin is led by four Patty Kazmaier finalists: Laila Edwards, Caroline Harvey, Casey O’Brien, and Kirsten Simms. Junior forward Laila Edwards leads the team in goals (30), just one goal off the national leader,
Minnesota’s Abbey Murphy. Junior Defender Caroline Harvey leads all defenders nationally in goals (16), assists (42), and points (58). Casey O’Brien is dominating the nation with 83 points, 18 more than teammates Harvey and Simms (both 65 points). O’Brien is averaging 2.18 points per game. Kirsten Simms recorded two hat trick in a span of 3 games vs. Bemidji State—February 22nd and March 1st.
The Terriers have played at LaBahn Arena just once in the 2015 NCAA Tournament, which was also their last NCAA Tournament game, a loss to Wisconsin (1-5).
Records
0-6-0: vs. Wisconsin
0-2-0: vs. Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament
Stats
Coach Tara Watchorn faced Wisconsin 3 times as a player, included the Terriers first game against the Badgers in program history
Victoria Bach scored each of the last 3 goals for the Terriers against the Badgers across two games—March 14th, 2015 (1-5 L), November 25th, 2017 (2-4)
