University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Boston University
Boston University Upends No. 14 UMass Hockey 6-2
January 29, 2010 | Hockey
Jan. 29, 2010
BOSTON - Boston University scored three goals in 2:54 during the second period en route to a 6-2 win over No. 14 UMass Hockey Friday night at Agganis Arena. Ross Gaudet had two goals for the Terriers (9-11-3, 7-9-2 HEA), who also added two power play goals and a shorthanded marker. The Minutemen (15-10-0, 10-8-0 HEA) received goals from Brian Keane and Martin Nolet. Kieran Millan got the start in goal for BU, making 39 saves, while Paul Dainton made 31 saves for UMass, who will travel to Providence tomorrow for a 7 PM puck drop.
Massachusetts outshot the Terriers 41-37, with the Minutemen going 1-for-4 on the power play, ending a previous 0-for-11 power play skid. Boston University was 2-for-5 on the man advantage.
While the Minutemen outshot Boston University 16-14, and seemed to have more quality scoring opportunities during the first 15 minutes of the first period, the Terriers capitalized with 2:38 remaining to go up 1-0 heading into intermission. The line of T.J. Syner, Casey Wellman and James Marcou had several scoring chances in the opening frame, generating six shots, but could not solve Millan.
Gaudet put BU up 1-0 with less than three minutes to play in the period when he buried a loose rebound from an Eric Gryba shot at the point; Dainton saved the initial shot but could not recover in time to nab Gaudet. The Terriers followed the Gaudet goal with back-to-back chances on a breakaway by Zach Cohan and a follow up shot by Corey Trivino in the slot.
The teams combined for four goals in the final five minutes of the second period, but the Terriers came out on top with three goals in 2:54 to take a 4-1 lead. Gaudet got the scoring spree started with his second of the night immediately off a faceoff win in the UMass zone. Nick Bonino pulled the puck back to a waiting Gaudet atop the faceoff circle, and Gaudet sent a wrister off both posts and past Dainton. Colby Cohen gave BU a three-goal advantage 72 seconds later when he let a slapshot fly from the blueline that beat a screened Dainton for Cohen's ninth goal of the season.
UMass clawed its way back into the game with Keane's second score of the year just 36 seconds following the Cohen goal. After sending the puck up to Justin Braun at the point, Braun fired a low shot that was blocked by a skater, but Keane was there to clean up to bring it back to a two-goal game.
But Vinny Saponari regained his team's three-goal edge when he redirected a Colby Cohen shot from the point with 1:39 left in the frame and the Terriers on the power play.
The Minutemen persistently worked to get themselves back into the game during the third period, scoring midway through the frame to bring it back to a two-goal game, but three UMass penalties halted its chances of a full comeback. With the Minutemen on the power play, there was a scrum in front of Millan. Several players tried to settle the puck, but not before Nolet slammed home his fourth goal of the season. The goal was briefly reviewed, but stood as called.
The Terriers went on the man advantage with under seven minutes to play, but waited until the waning seconds of the power play to put BU up for good. David Warsofsky controlled the puck at the point, and made a quick move to avoid a charging UMass defender before dishing to his partner Max Nicastro. Nicastro teed up a slapshot that manuevered through three bodies before finding the twine for Nicastro's second goal of the year. Luke Popko added a shorthanded goal in the final minute for his first tally of the year.
