June 10, 2009

This summer, GoTerriers.com is counting down the top 12 achievements of Boston University teams and student-athletes in 2008-09, one of the greatest years ever for Terrier athletics. Check back each Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we reveal this year's Terrier Twelve.

Coming in at No. 11 in this year's Terrier Twelve is the women's ice hockey team's ascendance to a nationally ranked program in a season that culminated with the squad's first-ever postseason victory. In just the fourth year of the program, the Terriers reached as high as fourth in the polls and finished the season ranked 10th nationally.

The season began on an inauspicious note with a win over Union and a loss to Rensselaer on a season-opening trip to upstate New York. The Terriers then returned home to host fifth-ranked Mercyhurst for a pair of games. BU had never beaten a team ranked higher than eighth in its three-year history, so it was no surprise when the Lakers skated to a 4-2 win in the first game.

Facing Mercyhurst for the second straight night on Oct. 11, the game began with more of the same. Kelley Steadman scored for Mercyhurst in the first minute of the game and Hayley McMeekin gave the Lakers a 2-0 lead by the end of the first period, but the early deficit didn't sink the Terriers' spirit. BU came out looking reenergized in the second period, peppering Mercyhurst goalie Courtney Drennen with 23 shots and earning a two-man advantage for 1:15, but BU was unable to get on the board.

Early in the third, the Terriers finally broke through when sophomore Jillian Kirchner scored and was followed less than a minute later by a tally from senior Erin Seman to tie the game at 2-2. In the 58th minute of the game, freshman Jenelle Kohanchuk ripped a shot that was saved, but junior Jonnie Bloemers was there for the rebound to score the game-winning goal and lift the Terriers to a 3-2 win.

After another strong weekend with a win over Clarkson and a tie with sixth-ranked St. Lawrence, the Terriers were set to face off with fourth-ranked New Hampshire at Walter Brown Arena on Oct. 23. The three-time defending Hockey East champion Wildcats had held BU's number throughout their short history together. UNH was 10-0-0 all-time against the Terriers and had most recently ushered BU out of the postseason with an 8-0 thrashing in the 2008 Hockey East semifinals. New Hampshire was the only Hockey East team the Terriers had never beaten.

On this day, it was the Terriers who struck first. Freshman Tara Watchorn, who would go on to earn New England All-Star honors, scored her first collegiate goal less than two minutes into the game and sophomore Lauren Cherewyk scored on the power play to double the Terriers' lead. The Wildcats battled back in the second, though, closing the gap with strikes from Jenn Wakefield and Micaela Long to send the game into the final period tied at 2-2. This time, Cherewyk was the hero, scoring her second power-play goal of the game 11:55 into the third and adding another signature win to the suddenly streaking Terriers' tally. BU ended up undefeated against New Hampshire this season, winning shootouts after ties in the other two meetings.

BU peeked into the national polls for the first time after tying St. Lawrence, coming in 10th in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. After toppling New Hampshire, there was no doubt of the Terriers' credentials and both polls placed BU eighth in the nation, a ranking that continued to climb as the Terriers cruised through October and November, stringing together a program-record 10-game unbeaten streak.

The team's fortunes reached their apex on Nov. 22 with a 4-1 win over eighth-ranked Boston College in Chestnut Hill. For the first time, BU was the favorite entering the meeting of rivals and the Terriers did not disappoint, dominating the contest throughout with perhaps the finest game in program history. The offense was powered by the "K Line" of senior Gina Kearns, Kirchner and Kohanchuk, each of whom scored a goal.

"I think the optimal word is that it was a thorough win," said BU head coach Brian Durocher after beating the Eagles. "We did a good job killing penalties, we scored a power-play goal and we held them to 25 shots. Those are all real good signs for us."

That win boosted the Terriers to the fourth-ranked team in the nation, although the streak ended with a loss at Yale three days later. For the rest of the season, BU battled through a fierce Hockey East schedule and mixed in challenging non-conference foes. An 8-1 rout of Northeastern on Senior Day secured sole possession of third place for the Terriers, their best-ever finish in Hockey East. It also meant that BU would host its first-ever playoff game in Hockey East's expanded tournament and a rematch with the Huskies resulted in a 2-1 victory, advancing BU to the Hockey East semifinals for the second straight season and completing a campaign that showcased the team's growth from a fledgling program to a national contender in just four seasons.