Sunday, January 04, 2026

Women edge Harvard for Belpot title; Men rout Simon Fraser

 

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Neely Nicholson's goal late in the third period broke a 2-2 tie as the Terriers defeated Harvard for the 2026 Friendship Series championship at Belfast's SSE Arena, claiming the Belpot trophy. The win gives BU back-to-back wins in the Series as the Men won their championship last season. 

For comments from Coach Tara Watchorn and Nicholson, see the post-game link below and the coverage from Boston Hockey Blog. 

 

Terriers opened the scoring with two minutes left in the opening period. Lexi Bertelson controlled the puck behind the Crimson cage and passed through a defender's feet to Riley Walsh, who was camped at the left post. She quickly poked the puck home for a 1-0 lead.      

After Harvard tied the score early in the middle period, BU needed just 36 seconds to respond. Lilli Welcke took the puck deep, then slid it to Lola Reid in the slot. Welcke circled the net, took a return pass and flipped the puck over the Harvard goalie.

After the Crimson knotted the score again early in the third period, both teams had power play chances but were unable to convert. Then, at 12:46 Maeve Kelly kept the puck in the offensive zone at the left point. She passed to Nicholson who took two strides in from center point and whipped a shot that beat Harvard's Ainsley Tuffy to the stick side.   

Harvard pulled the goalie with two minutes remaining. Then a penalty to Walsh created a 6-on-4 for the final minute but the Terriers held on for the win.

Mari Pietersen stopped 27 of 29 shots and yielded just two goals in each of the tournament games.

After beginning the season at 2-8-0, BU is 3-1-3 in the past seven games with two of the ties resulting in shootout wins. 

● GoTerriers.com recap and box score 

● Post-game Coach Tara Watchorn and Nicholson 

● Boston Hockey Blog BU women’s hockey beats Harvard 3-2 to win the Belpot

● Boston Hockey Blog Don’t look now, but after Friendship Series triumph, BU women’s hockey is coming

● BelfastGiants.com Boston University Secure 2026 Friendship Series Title at The SSE Arena, Belfast

 

 

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Behind two goals apiece from Sascha Boisvert and Jack Harvey and four Conrad Fondrk assists, #19 Terriers scored early and often against an over-matched Simon Fraser squad to gain an 8-2 exhibition game win at Agganis Arena. 

Twelve skaters hit the scoresheet for BU who was without the four line-up regulars who played in the World Junior Championships as well as Captain Gavin McCarthy who helped the U.S. to silver in the Spengler Cup.

Mikhail Yegorov was in net for the first 30 minutes, stopping seven of eight shots. Max Lacroix stopped eight of nine shots in 26 minutes before giving way to Steven Luciano making his first appearance as a Terrier.

BU opened the scoring six minutes into the game with the first of three power-play goals. Owen McLaughlin passed from behind the SFU goal line to Fondrk at the point. He set up Boisvert at the right face-off dot--Cole Eiserman's office--for a one-timer past Gabe Gratton and BU was off and running. 

Three minutes later, BU scored on the rush. Mick Frechette carried the puck into the offensive zone and found Jack Murtagh behind the defense for a deft goal in tight. 

Ryder Ritchie made it 3-0 at 15:27, taking a pass from Nick Roukounakis in the slot and going bar down to beat Gratton. (See the highlights linked below).

Just before the period ended, BU scored once more on a strong individual effort by Jonathan Morello. Taking a pass in stride from Roukounakis as he entered the offensive zone, the freshman center tried to split two defenders. He was turned around but recovered the puck, went around the cage and stuffed in a wrap-around shot for a 4-0 lead.  

SFU got on the scoreboard early in the second period on Zac Maxwell's breakaway tally. Yegorov appeared to have made the stop but the puck trickled over the goal line. 

Two minutes later the Terriers scored on the rush again. McLaughlin set up Harvey for a one-timer from the right dot. Kyle Kim picked up his first assist on the play. 

BU led 5-1 after two periods.

Terriers went on a power play early in the third with Boisvert connecting again. He took McLaughlin's pass in the right circle, hesitated as a defender attempting a block slid by and wired a hard wrister over Gratton's shoulder on the glove side. 6-1.

After Matteo Speranza scored SFU's second goal at 8:31, BU responded two minutes later. Frechette, who was activating throughout the game, skated out from the corner in the O-zone, held the puck, then zipped a pass to Brandon Svoboda at the goalmouth. He slipped the puck through Gratton's five-hole for a 7-2 lead.    

The Terriers' final tally came on a power play that began with Harvey winning the draw. Ritchie traded passes with Fondrk, then found Harvey in the slot for a one-timer that whizzed over Gratton, high on the blocker side. 

BU attempted 99 shots, putting 52 on goal to SFU's 19. Terriers also dominated at the face off dot, winning 42 of 65 draws. 

Terriers, who ended first semester winning four of five games, resume Hockey East action next week with a home-and-home against UMass. Friday's game is in Amherst and Saturday's is at Agganis Arena.

● GoTerriers.com recap and box score 

● Highlights

● Post-game Coach Jay Pandolfo  

Looking ahead

2026 recruit Egor Shilov scored his 19th goal and added an assist in Victoriaville's 3-2 loss to Val-d'Or. He has a 19-26-45 scoring line in 35 games, second best on the Tigers and second among league rookies.         

Looking back

With an 11-8-19 scoring line, Wilmer Skoog is tied for the Charlotte Checkers' points lead.  

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