UConn women, Northeastern to battle a fourth time as Hockey East final comes to Storrs

STORRS — After winning the Hockey East title in a thriller in 2024, the UConn women expected to make banners on campus an annual thing. But a not-so-funny thing happened at Toscano Family Ice Forum a year ago, the Huskies, after winning the regular season, lost the conference semifinal to Northeastern.

“We want it; we’ve been working so hard,” said Kyla Josifovic, UConn’s leading scorer. “It started literally with the loss that happened last season. From that moment on, we were like, ‘We don’t want to feel like this,’ and that’s what has pushed us to get to this game.”

UConn has pushed back to the conference final, with Northeastern, the regular-season champ and dominant program in the league for the last decade, the road block once again. They will play in the confetrence final at Toscano at 3:30 p.m. Saturday on ESPNNews.  This time, at least, it’s not win-or-go-home as both teams are certain to make the 11-team NCAA Tournament.

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Northeastern (28-7-1), ranked fifth in the NCAA’s Percentage Index, has beaten sixth-ranked UConn (26-8-2) three times by a total of four goals, the last one in overtime on Feb. 20. With its home rink closed for renovation, Northeastern couldn’t host, so the league chose UConn as the best option.

UConn has eight players with 20 or more points, with four effective scoring lines. Sophomore Claire Murdoch, the conference player of the month in February, has had the hot scoring touch down the stretch. The Huskies beat Maine and Holy Cross, both by 6-1 scores, to get to the final.

“This is the most offensive team we’ve had,” UConn coach Chris MacKenzie said, “and we’re not relying on any one player, so balance is the word.”

Tia Chan, fifth-year senior, has been UConn’s rock in goal, starting 34 of 36 games and posting a 1.59 goals-against average. A former Olympian with China’s national team, she turned back Northeastern in OT in the 2024 final. This year, she’s is a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier (national player of the year) Award.

Dom Amore: Tia Chan continues to stonewall in goal for 5th-ranked UConn women’s hockey team

“Brick wall, she’s been unstoppable,” Josifovic said, “even if we’re out of position, like last game, you saw highlight saves. She’s just very consistent in her game.”

Meanwhile, Northeastern defender Jules Constantinople of East Haven is nearing the end of her distinguished college career. She has seven goals and was a unanimous all-conference selection with seven goals, 17 assists.

“Gritty little player,” MacKenzie said. “She had a breakout year, too. You talk their coaches, I bet they say she’s gotten better and better every year.”

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