Jan. 29, 2010
Box Score | Gaudet's Postgame Comments | Video Highlights
BOSTON - Powered by two goals from sophomore Ross Gaudet and a trio of assists from junior Nick Bonino, the Boston University men's ice hockey team rolled to a 6-2 win over No. 14/15 Massachusetts on Friday night at Agganis Arena. The win boosts the Terriers to 9-11-3 overall and 7-9-2 in Hockey East play, while the Minutemen fall to 15-10-0 overall and 10-8-0 in conference.
Gaudet posted his first career multiple-goal game, scoring the first two tallies of the game as BU never trailed in the contest. Bonino reached 100 collegiate points with his three assists, setting up each of Gaudet's goals as well as a shorthanded strike by senior Luke Popko in the final minute of the game.
Junior Colby Cohen, freshman Max Nicastro and Popko each tallied a goal and an assist and sophomore Vinny Saponari chipped in a goal to round out the scoring for the Terriers. Sophomore Kieran Millan made 39 saves between the pipes.
Junior Brian Keane and senior Martin Nolet netted the goals for UMass, while junior netminder Paul Dainton stopped 31 shots.
After its first three goals of the night came at even strength, BU went on to convert on two of its final four power plays before Popko's shorthanded tally capped the scoring. The Terriers are tied for third in the nation in shorthanded tallies this season with six.
The Terriers held a 1-0 lead late in the second period before a span of under three minutes produced a trio of BU goals and the Minutemen's first tally of the contest, making it a 4-1 contest after two.
Gaudet scored the lone goal of the first period when a rebound off a shot from senior Eric Gryba made its way to the slot, where Gaudet sent it home for his sixth goal of the season with just 2:38 left in the stanza.
In the second period, BU extended its lead to 3-0 when Gaudet scored off a faceoff win by Bonino at 15:27 followed by a tally by Cohen just 72 seconds later on assists from freshman Max Nicastro and Popko.
Just after UMass opened the scoring 36 seconds after Cohen's tally on a goal by junior Brian Keane, Saponari reestablished the three-goal cushion on a redirect just above the crease at 18:21 to cap the Terriers' run of three goals in 2:54.
BU will return to action on Monday (Feb. 1) when it faces Northeastern in the opening round of the 58th Beanpot Tournament at 8 p.m. at TD Garden.
