University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
#4 Boston College
Eagles Eliminate Mass Attack From HEA Playoffs, 5-2
March 13, 2010 | Hockey
March 13, 2010
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - No. 4 Boston College used a three-goal third period and received two goals from Barry Almeida to eliminate UMass Hockey from the Hockey East Quarterfinals 5-2 on Saturday night at Conte Forum. Casey Wellman had two goals for the Minutemen, while James Marcou had two assists, setting the new UMass all-time assist with 96. Paul Dainton got the start in goal for the Mass Attack (18-18-0), making 22 saves. The Eagles (23-10-3) will move onto the Hockey East Semifinals next weekend at the TD Garden.
The Eagles outshot the Minutemen 27-18 for the game, while Massachusetts was 1-for-5 on the power play. Boston College went 0-for-6 on the power play.
Boston College dictated the play during the opening minutes of the first period, keeping the puck in the Minuteman zone and generating several scoring chances. The Eagles went up 1-0 in the sixth minute of the period when Barry Almeida took a pass from Nick Price and wristed a shot over Dainton's glove for his sixth goal of the season.UMass was awarded two power plays throughout the first frame, and had some good opportunities during the man advantages, but Muse and the Eagle defense held their ground to protect their early lead.
The Minutemen started to build some momentum near the midway mark of the period, and got on the board with 7:42 left in the stanza on Casey Wellman's 22nd goal of the season off a loose rebound. Justin Braun started the play on the left side of the ice before threading a pass to Marcou on the opposite side. Marcou then sent a low shot towards goal, which Muse turned away with his pads, but Wellman was waiting for the rebound on the doorstep and pounded it home to tie the score.
Both teams traded chances and power plays during the second period, with each squad scoring once to make it 2-2 heading into intermission. Boston College took a 2-1 lead with 7:18 left in the period while shorthanded on Carl Sneep's ninth goal of the year. While a UMass defender rubbed off an Eagle attacker along the boards, Jimmy Hayes made a quick sidestep, picked up the loose puck and went in on Dainton. Hayes then found Sneep joining the play, threw a pass into open space, and Sneep finished the play with a hard shot off the crossbar and over the goal line.
The Minutemen stormed right back, however, netting the equalizer just 33 seconds following the Boston College goal. T.J. Syner sped into the Eagle zone and threw the puck in on Muse. Marcou tried to get a stick on the puck, but it popped out to Wellman who rocketed a shot into the twine. The goal was Wellman's 11th power play tally of the season, passing Thomas Pock for the UMass single-season power play goal record.
The Eagles took a 3-2 lead just two minutes into the third period when Matt Lombardi stole an errant UMass pass and went in alone and make a quick deek to beat Dainton. Boston College went up two goals midway through the period when Paul Carey netted his eighth goal of the season. Steven Whitney tried to wrist a shot on goal, but the puck went off a skate on its way to the net, and landed on the open stick of Carey, who roofed it before Dainton to recover.
UMass tried to dig itself out of the deficit, and had several chances to bring it back to a one-goal game. Wellman nearly completed his hat trick bid on a two-on-one with six minutes to play, but the Eagle defense broke up the play before Wellman could get a shot off. The Minutemen pulled Dainton with 1:30 left in regulation, but Almeida netted an empty net goal with under a minute leftto ice the game.
