Boston University
Massachusetts
No. 1/2 Terriers Fall to Massachusetts, 3-2
February 10, 2012 | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 10, 2012
Box Score | Video Highlights
Coach Parker - Postgame Comments
BOSTON - The No. 1/2 Boston University men's ice hockey team dropped a 3-2 contest to Massachusetts on Friday evening at Agganis Arena. Junior Alex Chiasson recorded a goal and an assist for the Terriers, who move to 17-9-1 overall and 13-7-1 in Hockey East play.
The Minutemen (10-12-5, 6-10-4 HEA) never trailed in the contest and used a pair of power-play goals and a late empty-netter to secure their first road win of the season.
BU spent the late stages of the second period and nearly the entire third period trying to muster an equalizer after Joel Hanley broke a 1-1 tie with a marker from the foot of the left circle to give the visitors a 2-1 lead at 12:47 of the middle stanza.
The Terriers were forced to pull senior goaltender Kieran Millan late in regulation in favor of an extra attacker and the Minutemen managed to score on the empty net on a shot by Michael Pereira to take a 3-1 lead.
Following a UMass penalty in the final minute, BU brought the extra attacker back on to create a 6-4 advantage and got a goal from Chiasson with 4.5 ticks left, but it was too little, too late.
Sophomore Brandon Gracel opened the scoring at 7:14 of the first with a power-play tally for the Minutemen, as he backhanded the puck to the back of the net after collecting a rebound in the slot.
Senior captain Chris Connolly tied the game just over two minutes later when he poked in the puck while it was sitting in the crease following an attempt at the left post by sophomore Matt Nieto, who assisted on both of BU's goals.
UMass held a 37-35 shot advantage and got a 33-save performance from freshman Kevin Boyle. Millan made 34 stops for the Terriers.
Each team had six power-play chances in the contest. UMass scored on two of theirs, while BU converted on its sixth and final opportunity with Millan pulled in the final minute.
During the first intermission, the Terriers celebrated the 40th anniversary of the program's back-to-back national championship teams from 1971 and 1972.
BU will return to action on Monday (Feb. 13) when it faces No. 5/4 Boston College at TD Garden in the championship game of the 60th Beanpot. The game, which will be broadcast live by NESN, will start at 7:30 p.m.
