BOSTON — Skylar Irving was met with a mob of red jerseys on the ice and roars from the TD Garden crowd.
The Kingston, Mass., native's overtime time goal secured the 2024 Beanpot for the Northeastern women’s team which beat Boston University, 2-1, Tuesday night.
Irving – who scored both of the Huskies’ goals and earned MVP honors – dashed up the ice, found herself open in the slot and slipped the puck past BU goaltender Callie Shanahan 27 seconds into the 3-on-3, five-minute period.
“I kind of just got really excited and wanted to hug my teammates. All I really thought was, ‘Wow, we just won another Beanpot’ and that was an amazing feeling,” Irving said postgame.
Tuesday night’s victory marked Northeastern’s 19th Beanpot title and first back-to-back championship win since 2012-13.
Fifth-year netminder Gwyneth Philips made 23 saves and, despite the Terriers tying the game 1-1 with under a minute remaining in regulation, maintained her poise through the extra hockey.
“That kind of speaks volumes for our team. To let in the tying goal with less than a minute left on 6-on-5 – to not let that deter us and have Sky I think score on the opening shift of overtime was huge,” Philips said postgame.
While a Beanpot trophy is welcomed on any stage, Northeastern’s win owns a special spot in women’s hockey history. TD Garden hosted the women’s Beanpot Championship for the first time ever and showcased a turning point in hockey in front of a crowd of 10,633 – the largest women’s hockey game ever played in New England.
“When I walked out for opening introductions, I got chills. I didn’t even realize. I looked around and I was like ‘Wow, I can’t believe this,’” Husky head coach David Flint said postgame.
No matter the outcome of the competition, skating on NHL ice in front of the next generation of women hockey players was something both teams’ players will cherish.
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“It was obviously incredible. Probably the best experience I’ve ever had despite the score,” BU senior forward Catherine Foulem said postgame. “Coming out for warmups and having kids bang on the windows and try to exchange hockey cards for pucks – it’s something you only see the NHL do and it was quite special to be part of that.”
After nearly 40 minutes of scoreless hockey, Irving got her first goal of the night in the last minute of the middle frame off a strong individual effort. The pivot weaved around Foulem by the left circle before snapping it glove-side for the 1-0 advantage at 19:27.
Irving’s sixth goal of the season – and first women’s Beanpot Championship goal scored at TD Garden – gave the Huskies an obvious boost heading into the final frame.
BU broke through Northeastern’s suffocating defensive play in the third period thanks to a wrister from Foulem that knotted things, 1-1, at 19:03 while Shanahan was pulled for the extra skater. However, Irving’s heroics in overtime quickly ended the Terriers’ comeback story.
The Huskies defended their title, but the 2023-24 win carries a bit more weight than last year. Northeastern lost a bevy of offensive firepower after graduating its superline of Chloe Aurard, Maureen Murphy and Alina Muller, and struggled early on in the season to cement a team identity in its new era.
The Beanpot is a turning point for the group.
“It was awesome winning it last year, but it’s a little bit more rewarding this year when we were battling a bunch of adversity throughout the season. Just being able to pull together and get this win was huge,” Irving said.
Northeastern’s defensive game has become its strength, and it shut down a Terrier offense that hung 10 goals on Vermont through two games last weekend. The Huskies won the Beanpot by scoring just three goals in the tournament.
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“The thing with this team – I’ve been saying it for a while – we’re a little bit offensively challenged,” Flint said. “But the one thing that has been fairly consistent throughout the year is our goaltending and our defense.”
The Huskies didn’t stray from the things that have brought them success this season, and as a result, were the first women’s team to lift the Beanpot trophy at TD Garden.
“I just think it’s an extra special moment and it’s something that I’m going to definitely treasure for the rest of my life,” Irving said.
