Box Score
The top-seeded Terrier hockey team saw its hopes for a Hockey East tournament title come to an end on March 17th as it bowed to fourth-seeded University of Maine, 4-2, in the semifinals of the league tournament at the FleetCenter.
The loss dropped the Terriers' season record to 24-9-7, but, more significantly, it virtually ended all hopes of B.U. receiving one of the East's top two seeds and a bye in next weekend's NCAA Regionals.
The 12-team field and the pairings will be announced on Sunday (March 19th) and carried live on ESPN2 beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Black Bears, who are now 10-0-1 in their last 11 games, jumped to a 2-0 lead at the 5:40 mark of the first period. Robert Ek opened the scoring at 2:15, and that was followed by Chris Heisten's goal at 5:40.
"I was very disappointed in how we played the first half of the first period," Terrier head coach Jack Parker would say later in the post-game press conference.
B.U. managed to get one of the goals back at 8:10 of the period on junior Carl Corazzini's (Framingham, MA) first of two goals during the game. For Corazzini, it was his 8th goal in 10 career games against the Black Bears.
"Corazzini should play the rest of his career against Maine," kidded Parker.
The Terriers managed to outshoot Maine, 14-9, in the opening period, but the Black Bears emerged with the one-goal lead, 2-1.
The second period belonged to Maine both in terms of shots, 15-9, and goals, 2-0.
"I was very disappointed in how we played the entire second period," said Parker.
Ben Guite scored on the Maine power play at 14:16, while Niko Dimitrakos pushed his team's lead to 4-1 at 16:20 of the period.
"Win the third period and win the game," has been one of the team's battle cries this year.
On Friday night, the Terriers did win the third period, but they didn't win the game.
During the final 20 minutes of action, B.U. outshot the Black Bears, 15-5, and outscored them, 1-0, on Corazzini's second goal of the game and 21st of the season. It came with just 2:05 to play in the game, while the Terriers were on the power play and had pulled freshman goalie Rick DiPietro (Winthrop, MA).
The situation gave the Terriers a 6-on-4, and they made the most of the two-man advantage.
"It was a question of too little too late," said Parker.
"I think we were just a little too jumpy out there at the beginning," said the coach. "But, you have to give Maine credit with how well they played."
Parker summed up his feelings perfectly - "Thank God we have another game to play."
Just whom they will be playing and whether they will be playing the East Regional in Albany, NY or the West Regional in Minneapolis, MN will be announced on March 19.
