AROUND HOCKEY EAST: The Women's Hockey East playoff picture began to take shape last weekend, as Boston College, Northeastern, Providence, Boston University, New Hampshire and Vermont have all clinched postseason berths. Six of the eight playoff spots are now secured. With a 4-1 win over Merrimack Wednesday, Boston College clinched at least a share of the regular-season title for the fourth year in a row ... Providence swept a pair at Maine, launching the Friars into third place in the Hockey East table and securing head coach Bob Deraney's 300th career win behind the Friars' bench. In Sunday's 5-2 victory, sophomore defenseman Kate Friesen (Altona, Man.) scored twice, including the game winner, and added an assist ... UConn and Vermont split a pair of games in Storrs, as the two teams jockey for position in the Hockey East standings. Friday, senior netminder Madison Litchfield (Williston, Vt.) became Vermont's career leader in wins (28) after a 29-save performance against to backstop her Catamounts to a 4-2 win on the road. The next day, UConn junior forward Leah Lum (Richmond, B.C.) scored both of the Huskies' two goals in a 2-1 victory. Lum scored three of her team's four goals on the weekend, moving to 17 on the season, and has factored in on five of UConn's 12 total game-winning tallies ... In its lone game of the weekend, Northeastern swept the New Hampshire Wildcats, 6-0 in Durham. Husky sophomore forward Kasidy Anderson (Shaker Heights, Ohio) had a career-high four points, netting two goals while assisting on the final two markers of the game. Brittany Bugalski (Boynton Beach, Fla.) earned her fifth shutout of the season in the 29 save performance against UNH ... Merrimack earned its first-ever win over Boston University Saturday night, downing the Terriers, 4-1, at home. The win put the Warriors into eighth place in Hockey East, sitting one point ahead of Maine and currently in playoff position. Freshman forward Mikyla Grant-Mentis (Brampton, Ont.) exploded for the Warriors and found the back of the net three times in the win. It marked her first career hat trick and just the second hat trick for a Merrimack skater in program history. Rookie goaltender Lea-Kristine Demers (Repentigny, Que.) stopped 36 of 37 shots she faced in the game to backstop the Warriors' win.
Leah Lum (Richmond, B.C.) scored three of the four goals for UConn in a weekend series against Vermont, netting one marker in a 4-2 loss Friday, and finding the net twice to account for UConn's offense in a 2-1 win Saturday. She now leads her team with 17 goals, a total that is tied for sixth nationally.
Mikyla Grant-Mentis (Brampton, Ont.) garners her second rookie of the week honor after netting her first career hat trick, and just the second three-goal performance in Merrimack's history, in a 4-1 victory over Boston University. It marked the Warriors' first ever win over the Terriers.
Merrimack's rookie goaltender Lea-Kristine Demers (Repentigny, Que.) stopped 36 of 37 shots that she faced Saturday against Boston University, helping Merrimack earn the first win in program history over the Terriers.
HOCKEY EAST WEEKLY TOP PERFORMERS
Megan Keller, BC (Jr., D, Farmington Hills, Mich.) Was the top scoring league defenseman in just one game, with a goal and a pair of assists in a win over Merrimack on Wednesday, helping Boston College secure a share of the regular season title.
Briana Colangelo, UConn (Fr., F; Whitby, Ont.) Scored in a 4-2 loss Friday and picked up an assist in a 2-1 win Saturday. She currently leads UConn in assists with 14.
Annie Belanger, UConn (Jr., G; Sherbrooke, Que.) Got the start in both games this weekend and made 61 combined saves, including 38 in a 2-1 victory on Saturday.
Brittany Bugalski, NU (So., G; Boynton Beach, Fla.) Got her fifth shutout of the season with a 29-save performance against UNH.
Kasidy Anderson, NU (So., F; Shaker Heights, Ohio) Had a career-high four points in a 6-0 NU shutout against UNH. Anderson netted two goals and assisted on the Huskies' final two goals to earn a plus-four rating with five shots on goal.
Blair Parent, PC (Jr., F; Blaine, Minn.) Registered a goal and two assists to help the Friars sweep Maine, 6-4 and 5-2.
Meaghan Rickard, PC (Fr., F; Coventry, R.I.) Racked up four points (1g, 3a) in a pair of wins over Maine, getting the game winner Saturday.
Kate Friesen, PC (So., D; Altona, Man.) Scored twice, including the game winner, and added an assist Sunday to lead Providence past Maine, 5-2.
Kourtney Menches, UVM (Jr., F; Greer, S.C.) Found the net in both of Vermont's weekend games with UConn, scoring the game winner Friday.
Eve-Audrey Picard, UVM (Fr., F, Longueuil, Que.) Netted a goal Friday against UConn, her fourth point in the last six games.
Madison Litchfield, UVM (Sr., G; Williston, Vt.) Became UVM's leader in wins (28) as goaltender after a 29 save performance against UConn on Friday