Maine plays host to Vermont in a de facto playoff game Saturday afternoon as both teams conclude the regular season and vie for the final playoff spot in the Women's Hockey East Tournament.
Women's Hockey East Weekend Preview
News and notes from the upcoming weekend of Women's Hockey East action

Maine vs. Vermont

- Maine plays host to Vermont in a de facto playoff game Saturday afternoon as both teams conclude the regular season and vie for the final playoff spot in the Women's Hockey East Tournament. The regular season series between the teams is split 1-1-0 heading into their final regular season match up.

- Vermont will earn the eighth seed in the WHEA Tournament with a win or tie against Maine, while Maine must win the game to clinch the final playoff position.

- The Black Bears need to close out their season with a victory after going winless in their last seven (0-5-2). They gave up four points on the road at Boston College over the weekend, falling by scores of 2-1 and 5-2.

- The Catamounts meanwhile are riding a three-game unbeaten streak, needing to push it to four when they visit Maine on Saturday. Vermont has positioned itself for playoff contention after earning the regular season series sweep over Holy Cross last weekend. They shutout the Crusaders, 3-0, on Friday and skated to a 4-1 victory on Saturday.

- Theresa Schafzahl (Weiz, Austria) led all Women's Hockey East freshmen in points last weekend, netting two goals and dishing out two assists in a weekend sweep over Holy Cross. She was named Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week for her efforts.


#3 Northeastern vs. Merrimack (home and home)

- Northeastern and Merrimack meet for the final two games of the regular season to close out their three game Women's Hockey East series. The Huskies hold the advantage after skating to a 6-3 victory in their first meeting of the year.

- Merrimack remains in the hunt for quarterfinal hosting duties in the WHEA Tournament, sitting just two points behind Providence for the fourth seed. Northeastern has already claimed the regular season crown and the number one seed.

- Katelyn Rae (Courtice, Ont.) was tabbed Women's Hockey East Player of the Week and the NCAA First Start of the Week after posting six points on Friday. The senior found the back of the net twice and added four assists in the game, becoming just the fourth WHEA player to accomplish that feat.

- The Huskies enter the weekend after going 1-1-0 in the final two games of a three-game set with Providence. They earned their second Women's Hockey East regular season title in program history after defeating the Friars, 3-1, on Friday, before dropping the second game, 5-2.

- Skylar Fontaine (East Greenwich, R.I.) tallied three goals and dished out an assist to lead all WHEA defenseman in points last week.

- Merrimack heads into the weekend after taking three points in a two-game home stand with UConn. They defeated the Huskies, 7-1, on Friday, before playing to a 2-2 draw through the extra frame on Saturday. The Warriors finished the three game season series with a 2-0-1 record over the Huskies.


UConn vs. #8 Boston University

- UConn closes out the regular season when the Huskies play host to Boston University for their third and final game of their three-games series on Friday night. The Terriers currently hold the advantage with a 1-0-1 record over the Huskies. UConn is battling for the sixth or seventh seed in the WHEA Tournament, while Boston University is set to finish either second or third with home ice advantage locked up already.

- The Huskies picked up just one point in a two-game road trip at Merrimack last weekend. They fell to the Warriors, 7-1, before playing to a 2-2 draw.

- Samantha Carpentier-Yelle (Bromont, Que.) recorded 28 saves on Saturday, including 10 through the third period and extra frame to hold on for the tie.

- Boston University extended its unbeaten streak to 13 games (10-0-3) after going 2-0-1 through three games last week. The Terriers defeated Harvard in the championship game of the Beanpot Tournament, 3-2, in overtime to earn their first title since 1981, before playing New Hampshire to a 3-3 overtime draw on Saturday and skating to a 2-1 victory on Sunday.

- Goaltender Corinne Schroeder (Elm Creek, Man.) was named Women's Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week posting an defeated record in two appearances last week. The sophomore turned away 30 shots against Harvard, before putting up another 39 stops in Sunday's victory over the Wildcats.


Providence at Holy Cross, vs. #8 Boston University

- Providence wraps up two regular season series this weekend, taking on Holy Cross and Boston University, in search of securing home ice throughout the WHEA Tournament with a win. The Friars can sweep the series with the Crusaders, but are in search of their first win against the Terriers this season after dropping both games of a two-game set Jan. 11-12 by a combined score of 9-5.

- The Friars enter the weekend after last splitting a home and home series with Northeastern. They fell to the Huskies, 3-1, on Saturday, before coming back to defeat them 5-2 on Sunday on the road.

- Junior Meaghan Rickard (Coventry, R.I.) pushed her point streak to four games after netting two goals and adding an assist on the weekend. She has five points in that span on four goals and two assists.


New Hampshire vs. #7 Boston College

- New Hampshire welcomes Boston College to the Whittemore Center for the second time this season, as UNH battles for playoff position between the sixth and seventh seeds. The two teams are locked in a stalemate, each boasting a 1-1-0 record through their first two meetings this year.

- The Wildcats earned a crucial league point in a home and home series with Boston University last weekend. They played the Terriers to a 3-3 overtime draw on Saturday, before coming up short in a 2-1 loss on Sunday.

- Taylor Wenczkowski (Rochester, N.H.) recorded her first career hat trick on Saturday, netting all three of the Wildcats goals in the draw. Her third goal of the game came with under 30 seconds to go to force the extra frame.

- Boston College enters the final weekend of regular season play after taking four points from Maine in a two-game home stand and knocking off #3 Northeastern, 4-1, in the consolation game of the Beanpot Tournament last Tuesday. The Eagles defeated the Black Bears, 2-1, on Thursday, before skating to a 5-2 victory in their final regular season home game of the year on Friday.

- Kelly Browne (Burlington, Mass.) pushed her point streak to four games after netting a goal in each game last week. The rookie scored the game-winner in Thursday's victory over the Black Bears.