As the final seconds ticked down, and the puck was sliding toward the opposing goal, Vermont University players looked to the scoreboard at Matthews Arena for confirmation.
Yes, there it was: Vermont 2, Northeastern 1.
While Catamount fans hugged and exchanged high-fives at the final horn, Vermont players jumped into the arms of goaltender Jessie McPherson. The Catamounts celebrated like they had won a championship, not the late January meeting it was.
At the other end of the ice, the Huskies looked a little stunned. After all, the loss to red-hot Vermont snapped a 13-game winning streak and a 20-game unbeaten streak. A late glove-save by McPherson to protect the one-goal lead earned her ESPN’s No. 2 Play of the Day.
Afterward, head coach Dave Flint, graduate student defenseman Skylar Fontaine and graduate student goaltender Aerin Frankel met the media and talked about the loss to Vermont.
They admitted being named the No. 1 team in the nation earlier in the week added a layer of pressure. It’s tough enough wearing the bullseye as the team to beat in Hockey East and being the game every opponent circles on their schedule, never mind the country’s top program.
“It was like they had six skaters on the ice the way they were blocking shots,” Flint said. “Credit to Vermont. They played great. They got great goaltending and took advantage of their opportunities. It’s hard. You’re not going to sneak up on anybody.”
Northeastern received its first-ever No. 1 ranking last season, a campaign that saw the Huskies advance to the national championship for the first time.
“I think it gave us the confidence that we could compete on the national stage against the top teams,” Flint said. “There’s a lot of work to do if we want to have that opportunity again.”
The days of the Huskies sneaking up on any opponent are over.
“I’m not upset that we lost,” Flint said. “I think it was a good wake-up call. We haven’t been playing the way we’re capable of. We’re going to be fine. We just need a reset.”
Four days later, the Huskies were defeated at Matthews again, falling 3-1 to Boston College in the semifinal round of the Beanpot. BC goaltender Abigail Levy was here, there and everywhere in making 49 saves.
No one on Huntington Avenue is pushing any panic buttons.
“The team’s mindset is fine. Obviously, it stings to lose in the Beanpot because it is such a big deal in the city of Boston. The toughest part about the loss is that we took some big strides in the right direction as far as our execution and getting out to a quick start. I felt that we carried the play for a large majority of the game, but unfortunately, Boston College is the type of team that will make you pay for your mistakes and we made three big ones. Fortunately, there were a lot of positives that we can build off of,” associate head coach Nick Carpenito said.
No one is throwing a pity party for Northeastern. Opponents know how good the Huskies are. They have stars at each position — Frankel in goal, Fontaine on defense, and Maureen Murphy, Chloe Aurard and Alina Mueller at forward.
It all starts in net with Frankel.
Last year’s winner of the Patty Kazmaier Award as the nation’s top women’s player is looking to add to her hardware.
Incredibly, she has 96 career victories and 35 shutouts. Despite the recent losses to Vermont and BC, her 2021-22 numbers entering this weekend are eye-popping: 16-3-1 record, 1.09 goals-against average and .956 save percentage.
“We’ve obviously had a lot of success,” Frankel said. “Every year is completely different. “
The 2020-21 Huskies went on a magical run and gave national champion Wisconsin all it could handle in the title game before falling, 2-1.
“I think we have the team to do it again,” Frankel said.
Frankel said being ranked No. 1 is only important after the final game of the season.
“I always have so much confidence when she’s in the net,” Fontaine said.
Some wondered whether Frankel would return for a fifth season at Northeastern after the NCAA, due to the pandemic, offered hockey athletes an extra season of play.
“There wasn’t a doubt in my mind. This is where I want to be,” she said.
If the Huskies are going to go on another lengthy postseason run, Fontaine will be the one orchestrating the offense from the back end.
Only two points off the team scoring lead, the native of East Greenwich, R.I., loves jumping into the offense. She had 28 points in her first 26 games this season and 151 over her storied career. That’s an impressive total for a forward, never mind a defenseman.
“Obviously rankings matter, but they’re not the most important thing. I think we have a national-level team,” Fontaine said. “It’s a matter of getting there. I think it’s a realistic goal.”
Frankel and Fontaine are two of the elite players in the nation.
But Northeastern also has plenty of talent at forward led by leading scorer Murphy (15-15-30), a senior from Buffalo, N.Y., Aurard (15-14-29 in 20 games), a senior from France, and Mueller (8-21-29), a senior.
The Huskies will be without Mueller, who has only played in 16 games, until after the Winter Olympics. Mueller, who is representing Switzerland, is a terrific player.
“We’re going to need other players to step up,” said Flint, who calls Mueller’s absence a gigantic one. “She’s a big part of our team and she makes our offense go.”
The good news for the Huskies is Mueller will return for the playoffs.
Yes, the Huskies have lost two straight games for the second time this season. But they are 21-4-1 for a reason and hungry to show they’re one of the best teams in the nation.
Maybe even the best.
