Dutchmen send undisciplined BU home empty-handed.

Photo by Carl D'Annibale

Scoring three times in the final period, Union College shrugged off a Terrier comeback and earned a hard fought 5-3 victory at Messa Rink in Schenectady. The win was #100 for Union Coach Rick Bennett as the Dutchmen “overcame a brilliant performance by Terrier goaltender Sean Maguire,“ according to the Albany Times-Union.  

While pleased with some aspects of his team’s game, Terrier Coach David Quinn said "We lost this game for one reason: our d-zone coverage, noting “too much puck-watching” at times and “trying to do too much” other times.

Union took advantage of six BU penalties, pressuring the Terriers with eight of its 31 shots. On the first man-advantage, Ryan Scarfo converted a rebound six minutes into the game. Despite falling behind, BU dominated the first period and knotted the score at 15:20 when Assistant Captain Matt Lane drove to the net and converted a perfect pass from junior Doyle Somerby. Two minutes later, the 6-6 defenseman sent another puck toward the crease and freshman Ryan Cloonan found the handle and flicked it home for a 2-1 lead.

The hosts grabbed the momentum in the second period, firing 12 shots on goal. Maguire kept BU in the game, stoning the Dutchmen’s Eli Lichtenwald on a breakaway. and robbing Brett Supinski with “an incredible glove save.”  But with two minutes left in the period Mike Pontarelli beat Maguire with a one-timer.

Early in the third, Maguire stopped a point-blank shot only to have Lichtenwald bury the rebound to give Union the lead.  BU ramped up its game seeking the equalizer and it came at 15:24. Taking the puck behind his own net, freshman Charlie McAvoy raced up the ice, dished to sophomore Nikolas Olsson on his left whose return pass sent McAvoy in on net for the tying goal.

BU’s celebration was short-lived as Matt Wilkens restored the Union lead two minutes later. With Maguire pulled for an extra attacker, BU created a few chances, but Spencer Foo scored an empty-netter for the final 5-3 margin.   

While BU’s top line of Danny O’Regan, Ahti Oksanen and Jordan Greenway didn’t find the score sheet, Quinn was happy with the chances they did create.

Terriers, who  had only 2:14 of power play time, pressured Union with their man-advantage in the middle period by were turned aside by goalie Alex Sakellaropoulos

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score  

● BU goals (video) Lane, Cloonan, McAvoy

● Post-game comments: Quinn and Somerby

● Boston Hockey Blog: Recap,  Pluses & Minuses, Somerby leads offense

● SB Nation recap

● Albany Times-Union recap

Women's Team

Rebounding from Friday night's loss to Penn State, BU defeated the Nittany Lions, 3-1, at Walter Brown Arena. After a scoreless first period, the visitors took a 1-0 lead in the second, which BU matched at 15:13 on junior Samantha Sutherland's goal. A minute and half later, Rebecca Leslie scored her third of the season to put the Terriers on top. Freshman Sammy Davis' fourth goal of the season, scored on a power play, created the final 3-1 score. Sophomore Erin O'Neil turned aside 27 shots for the win.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score 

● Post-game comments: Leslie