NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – The No. 9/9 Northeastern women's hockey team (6-1-1, 2-0-0 WHEA) will travel to Lawler Rink to face Merrimack for the first time in program history on Friday at 2 p.m. The Huskies are riding a four-game winning streak and are looking to stay unbeaten in Hockey East action after beating Boston University and Providence last weekend.
HUSKIESÂ RANKEDÂ NINTHÂ INÂ BOTHÂ POLLSAfter beating No. 10/RV Boston University and Providence last weekend, the Huskies moved up to No. 9 in both national polls this week. Northeastern has been ranked in the top 10 of the USA Today/USA Hockey National Poll in four of the five weeks this season, but has not ascended higher than ninth in the ranking.
KRIZOVA, BUGALSKI EARN WHEA AWARDSSophomore
Denisa Krizova and freshman
Brittany Bugalski were honored with WHEA weekly awards, as announced by the league on Monday. Krizova was named the Warrior Co-Player of the Week in Hockey East after racking up six points last weekend against the Terriers and Friars. Bugalski took home Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week honors after stopping 42 of 43 shots (.977 save percentage) in backstopping the Huskies to a pair of wins.Â
DYNAMICÂ DUOSenior
Kendall Coyne and sophomore
Denisa Krizova have combined for 37 points through the first eight games this season. The duo is tied for the highest scoring output in the nation between two teammates, as BC's Alex Carpenter and Haley Skarupa, as well as Minnesota's Hannah Brandt and Sarah Potomak have each combined to post 37 points as well. Coyne and Krizova have recorded points in each of the last seven games entering Friday's contest.
STARTINGÂ FASTAt 6-1-1, Northeastern has tied its second-best eight-game start under head coach
Dave Flint. The Huskies also started 6-1-1 in 2012-13, and notched a 7-1-0 start the previous season. Northeastern went on to win over 20 games in each of those seasons.Â
LIGHTINGÂ THEÂ LAMPThe Huskies' offense has been on fire this season, averaging 5.12 goals per game (fourth in the NCAA). Northeastern has scored five goals or more in five games, and has lit the lamp seven times or more in three contests. A big part of the Huskies' offensive success has been the performance of the NU power play, which leads Hockey East and ranks second nationally at 34.5 percent. Northeastern has scored on the man-advantage in six of its eight games this season.
DENISAÂ DISHESÂ ITÂ OUTSophomore
Denisa Krizova factored in all four Northeastern goals (all in the first period) in the Huskies' 4-0 win over Providence on Oct. 25. Krizova set up NU's first three goals, before finishing a beautiful passing play to score the Huskies' fourth goal of the opening period. Krizova already has four multi-assist games this season and currently leads Hockey East and ranks second in the nation with 12 helpers this season.
BUGALSKIÂ EARNSÂ FIRSTÂ SHUTOUTFreshman goaltender
Brittany Bugalski earned her first collegiate shutout on Oct. 25 with a 12-save effort in Northeastern's 4-0 win over Providence. The Boynton Beach, Florida, native owns a .923 save percentage in seven appearances, which ranks second in the nation among the 10 rookie netminders that have seen playing time this season.
PROTECTINGÂ THEÂ NETNortheastern held Providence to just 12 shots on goal on Oct. 25, which represents a single-game low in shots allowed by the Huskies this season. The last time NU held a team to 12 shots or less was on Oct. 21, 2011 when the Red & Black limited Princeton to 12 attempts on goal.Â
SEVENÂ SCOREÂ INÂ WINÂ OVERÂ BUSeven different players scored in the Huskies' 7-1 demolition of No. 10/RV Boston University on Oct. 24.
Hayley Masters,
Halle Silva,
Paige Savage,
Hayley Scamurra,
Shelby Herrington,
Maddie Hartman and
Heather Mottau all lit the lamp to lift the Huskies to their biggest win over the Terriers since an 8-0 result on Feb. 3, 2004. The last time seven different players scored for NU was on Dec. 1, 2012 in an 8-1 win at UNH.
