When wins started to add up during this college hockey season, so did the expectations.

The Boston University women’s hockey team started the year with great potential and only saw greater things coming from this season as it progressed.

“From the start of the season, we knew we were going to have a good team and a real special team,” said Katie LaChapelle, a Lewiston native and assistant coach for the Terriers. “As the season went on, we kept winning games and kept winning games. We had a couple of lengthy winning streaks. When you start winning like that, you realize, ‘We’re not a bad team and we really have a chance to go far this year.'”

BU has earned the chance to go further than any team in women’s college hockey this season. The Terriers are in the Frozen Four this weekend in Erie,  Pennsylvania. No. 3 BU will face No. 2 Cornell in the NCAA Semifinal at Tullio Arena at 8 p.m.

The Terriers have a pair of Lewiston natives living the ultimate college hockey dream. In addition to LaChapelle on the bench for BU, Kasey Boucher is a defender on the team. Both are graduates of Lewiston High School.

“It’s extremely exciting for our team and all the players, especially the upperclassmen, ” said Boucher, a junior. “Knowing that we’ve gone a little further and actually have made it to the Frozen Four, it’s exciting to be here and everyone’s ready to go.”

It’s the first Frozen Four appearance for BU. It comes after a thrilling 4-2 win over Mercyhurst last weekend. BU was considered the underdog, and pulling off the win has generated a buzz around Boston and the school. For players and coaches alike, it is making for a great experience to be part of the school’s first Frozen Four trip.

“It’s an awesome feeling,” said LaChapelle. “Only four teams get to still play right now. You don’t ever take that for granted. I have a lot of friends who are in the coaching business and people whose seasons are coming to an end. We’re still getting to play and that’s great for us.”

Cornell (31-2-1) presents a tough matchup for BU. The two teams didn’t meet during the regular season but many of the players are familiar with each other from competitions.

“I think we’re pretty similar teams,” said LaChapelle. “We’ve got a real good mobile defense and so does Cornell. They have some real top-notch forwards, and we have some real talented kids. We like our odds if we come and play hard and play like we can and did last week.”

Though it will be a new experience for the Terriers (26-6-4), BU will try to approach it like any other game. There’s enough experience on the squad to handle the magnitude of a Frozen Four appearance. If anything, BU is hoping the atmosphere and crowd works to its advantage.

“It will be hard but once everyone gets into the game we’ll be able to look at it as another game,” said Boucher.  “Once we’re in the game the adrenaline will kick in and we won’t even realize all the people watching. We play well in front of crowds. It gets our team going and more motivated.”

A win Friday over Cornell will advance BU to Sunday’s 2 p.m. title game against the winner of No. 1 Wisconsin and No. 4 Boston College in Friday’s other semifinal at 5 p.m.

“When we play our game we feel like we can pretty much beat anyone,” said Boucher, who also played at the North American Hockey Academy in Stowe, Vermont.

Boucher played in all 36 games and scored four goals and had nine assists for the Terriers this season. She was a Hockey East All-Star, was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team last year and has continued her steady play this season.

“Practicing with my team every day this year, I definitely have improved,” said Boucher. “Being able to go up against my own team and seeing that good competition, it’s hard to not improve. Our coaches have done a really good job making sure we work really hard and stay on top of things.”

Boucher has emerged as a team leader this season and has earned the respect of her teammates and coaches. LaChapelle says she expects nothing less than a great game from Boucher Friday night and hopefully, another on Sunday.

“Kasey, in my opinion, is probably the most consistent player, definitely in our league and probably in college hockey,” said LaChapelle. “She just always does the little things right. She plays out there every shift that she has 100 percent. We couldn’t be happier with her.”

kmills@sunjournal.com