University of Massachusets Athletics
LIVE BLOG: UMass Hockey At Boston College
November 21, 2008 | Hockey
Nov. 21, 2008
Good evening and welcome to the UMass Hockey game blog live from Conte Forum at Boston College. The No. 16 Minutemen will face off with the defending national champion Eagles twice this weekend with tomorrow night's game being at UMass. If you haven't purchased a ticket for tomorrow night, you need to do so IMMEDIATELY as we are quickly approaching SELLOUT status.
John Sinnett and Matt Houde from the Media Relations department here with you tonight flanked to our left by our illustrious Daily Collegian writing staff and to our right by the Boston College media relations staff.
The opening face-off is about to begin and let me tell you there is a small, but loud and rowdy UMass contingent here thanks to the Marketing Department, Maroon Platoon, and of course, Peter Pan Busways.
Your starting lineup tonight for UMass is Alex Berry (left wing), Cory Quirk (center), James Marcou (right wing), Martin Nolet (left defense), Justin Braun (right defense) and Dan Meyers in goal.
For Boston College, the line up is Brock Bradford (left wing), Brian Gibbons (center), Benn Ferriero (right wing), Tim Kunes (left defense), Tim Filangieri (right defense) and John Muse in goal.
7:12 PM - UMass is on the penalty kill five minutes into the game after Scott Crowder is whistled for holding. The Eagles had several good looks in close to the crease, but Martin Nolet swatted one shot out of harms way with a cut good enough to get him a baseball scholarship and Dan Meyers made several nice saves moving laterally post-to-post. UMass kills off the penalty and we are back to full strength with a new PK streak in tact.
7:22 PM - Boston College takes its first penalty of the night as Andrew Orpik gets two minutes for slashing. Let's see if UMass can cash in and break its 0-for-13 PP streak that has been in place sine the Nov. 1 Providence game.
7:25 PM - Another BC penalty is called giving UMass a 5x3 power play for 24 seconds.
7:29 PM - The Eagles kill of the power play extending UMass to 0-for-14 on the power play. The crowd is starting to filter in to Conte with the lower bowl filling up a bit - nothing like the Mullins Center will be tomorrow night I can guarantee you.
7:43 PM - At the end of the first period, Boston College holds a 13-to-7 edge in shots, while UMass is 12-for-21 in the face-off dots. UMass is 0-for-2 on the power play, while BC is 0-for-1.
7:45 PM - Topher Bevis has now played in his 100th career UMass game for those of you keeping tabs.
7:50 PM - The second half is underway now.
8:03 PM - It's been a pretty even second period with each offense getting some good looks, but disciplined defensive play is the theme so far.
8:04 PM - Our bus group of student fans kind of reminds me of the movie 300 (since Meyers is in net, we will discuss movies during the game in regards to his movie blog). Our fans are like the Spartans, not that they are dressed in small leather garments with spears and shields, although some were on Halloween, but in the fact that despite being outnumbered, they are giving the BC Super Fans a pretty good run for their money in the chants and jeers department.
8:06 PM - Casey Wellman earns his first collegiate penalty going to the box for tripping.
8:09 PM - UMass successfully kills off the penalty.
8:10 PM - The second penalty on UMass of the second period is called on Will Ortiz for goaltender interference.
8:14 PM - Boston College goes up 1-0 on a pretty power play goal as Barry Almeida slid a pretty pass to the slot from the bottom of the left circle to Cam Atkinson who crashed on the back post.
8:21 PM - No further damage done in the period, but UMass could not find the equalizer. The Minutemen will need to finish any opportunities in the third period to get any points from tonight.
8:38 PM - Two minutes into the third period and another penalty is called on UMass - the fourth of the night.
8:43 PM - UMass killed off the first penalty, but has been called for cross checking - a lot of time on the ice for UMass' penalty groups.
8:46 PM - Back to evens strenght with 13 minutes remaining in the game.
8:50 PM - A hooking call against Boston College gives UMass a vital power play midway through the third.
Fans, if you have been having difficulties with the 100.9 FM WRNX broadcast, we were having some issues with the phone lines here in Conte. Everything should be A-Okay now.
9:01 PM - With 4:47 to play, John Wessbecker is sent to the penalty box for slashing. It's the sixth penalty of the night for UMass.
9:03 PM - As soon as I type that sentence, Chris Davis is whistled for a penalty giving BC a 5x3 power play.
9:05 PM - Boston College goes up 2-0 with 2:51 to play as Paul Carey stuffs home his own rebound shot on the 5x3 power play. UMass had to kill off the remainder of the Davis penalty, but is now back to full strength need a pair of goals in the final 2:14 to force OT.
9:08 PM - Another penalty on UMass as Alex Berry is sent to the box. Timeout Minutemen, 1:13 left in the game.