Box Score
LOWELL, MA-Freshmen forwards Chris Bourque and Peter MacArthur led a five-goal second-period outburst that propelled the Terrier hockey team to a 7-2 win over host UMass/Lowell in Hockey East action on Friday night, Nov. 19.
The win was the third in a row for the Terriers and sixth victory in their last seven decisions. They are now 6-3-0 overall and 5-1-0 in Hockey East. Their 10 points lead the league, and they are just one win shy of tying last year's victory total in Hockey East. Last season, the Terriers finished 6-13-5 in Hockey East and 12-17-9 overall.
With the Terriers trailing 2-1 at the end of the first period against UMass/Lowell, Bourque (Topsfield, MA) pulled the Terriers even on a power play goal just 15 seconds into the second period. He came skating in alone and fired the puck past UML starting goalie Chris Davidson. Senior Bryan Miller (Wayne, NJ) and junior David Van der Gulik (Abbottsford, BC) picked up the assists. Bourque would score a second time before the period was over, while MacArthur (Clifton Park, NJ) chipped in with a pair of assists.
In all, four players scored goals in the middle period, while six chipped in with an assist as "the puck was just jumping into the net for us in that period," said Terrier head coach Jack Parker.
"Take that second period away and it's a 2-2 game," said River Hawks' coach Blaise MacDonald after the game.
After Bourque tied the game with the Terriers enjoying a 5-on-3 situation, Van der Gulik scored what proved to be the game-winning goal at 1:46 of the period. He was set up beautifully on an excellent pass from junior Brad Zancanaro (Trenton, MI). Zancanaro, who was outside the right faceoff circle along the boards, gave the puck to Van der Gulik, who was coming down the slot and delivered what was "a huge goal for us," according to Parker. "After we made it 3-2, we just took off."
Bourque, with assists to senior Matt Radoslovich (Wanaque, NJ) and MacArthur, increased the scored to 4-2 at the 11:04 mark. Sophomore Kenny Roche (South Boston, MA) made it 5-2 at 14:47, as he was assisted by MacArthur and freshman Dan McGoff (Winchester, MA). Junior John Laliberte (Saco, ME) closed out the scoring with an unassisted goal at 18:04.
Freshman Pat Percella (Bayonne, NJ) provided the Terriers with their seventh goal, the most they have ever scored at Tsongas Arena, on the power play with just 34 seconds showing on the clock.
Through the first 20 minutes of action, there was no indication this would be a blow out, as UML took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
Kim Brandvold opened the scoring at the 7:04 mark before MacArthur tied the game on the first of three Terrier power play goals at 12:49. Miller and Bourque picked up the assists. The River Hawks then took a 2-1 lead on a goal by Ben Walter at 14:00 as he beat Terrier goalie John Curry (Shorewood, MN). It was the last goal Curry would give up as he stopped 25 River Hawks' shots en route to his fifth win of the season against just one loss.
"With the exception of the score, I was happy with how we played in that first period," said Parker. "I thought both teams played solid."
Then came the second period, as the Terriers scored their most goals in a period since they also scored five times in the third period en route to a 7-1 win over Providence College on March 8, 2003.
As might have been expected, the media covering the game wanted to talk to both Bourque and MacArthur after the game.
After skating on different lines in the Terriers' first two games of the season, Parker put the two together for the Vermont game. It is not coincidental the Terriers were 0-2 in the first two games and are now 6-1 with MacArthur at center and Bourque on the left wing. They have had different right wings in the seven games-freshman "Boomer" Ewing (Plymouth, MA) for two games before he got hurt, sophomore Eric Thomassian (Rye, NY) before he was hurt, Miller for one game, and Radoslovich for three games.
"I kidded the two of them that I would send them out with no right wing," Parker kidded about Bourque and MacArthur after the game. "All our freshmen have been playing well, but MacArthur and Bourque are special. They are like Frick and Frack."
"From the first time we went on the ice and started passing the puck around, I knew we could have some serious chemistry," MacArthur said of Bourque.
"From the first time we were on the ice together, I could see how unbelievable a player he is," Bourque said of MacArthur.
Since they have been skating together over the last seven games, the two have combined for 6-9-15. MacArthur has 3-5-8, while Bourque has 3-4-7.
"I think we are all having fun together," MacArthur said of the entire team.
"We all want to show how good B.U. is," said Bourque. "Everyone wanted to turn things around from last year. As a result, everyone is practicing hard and playing hard."
"We are getting great leadership from our captain Brian McConnell (Norfolk, MA)," said Parker. "The upperclassmen are playing very well, and no one wants a repeat of last year."
