Sunday, November 13, 2022

Terrier sweep UMass, claim top spot in Pairwise


Before a Heroes’ Night crowd of 4,869, #14 BU dominated #10/11 UMass again to come away with a 5-1 victory for its first series sweep of the season. Now standing at 6-3-0, the Scarlet & White received goals from Ryan Greene, Jamie Armstrong, Case McCarthy Nick Zabaneh and Jay O’Brien.

Responding to Coach Jay Pandolfo’s “pucks to the net” directive, the Terriers fired 45 shots on the UMass net—for the second night in a row—and added five goals to Friday’s seven. The Terriers’ first-year coach wanted more 5-on-5 scoring and his squad delivered nine times during the two games.

UMass had "pucks to the net" ideas of its own and outshot BU 14-12 in the first period, but Drew Commesso kept his cage clean.

BU got on the board midway through the period. Quinn Hutson's shot from the right point was stopped by goalie Cole Brady, but Luke Tuch pounced on the rebound and fed Greene in the slot for a wrister that beat Brady.

Late in the period, BU doubled the lead on Jamie Armstrong's second goal of the year. Planted in front of the crease, the senior wing controlled the rebound of Ty Gallagher's shot from the point and backhanded it past Brady. 


BU dominated second period shots, 15-8 and extended its lead second after its first power play had ended. Matt Brown corralled the puck in the left corner and passed it to Wilmer Skoog behind the UMass goal. With the defenders' attention focused on what the senior center might do with the puck from there, McCarthy sneaked in from the point, and one-timed Skoog's pass from the right dot past Brady to the glove side.

Thirty-eight seconds into the third period, UMass got numbers behind the Terrier defense and Eric Faith scored into a half-empty net. BU took a penalty--only its second of the night--but killed it allowing just one shot on goal.  

Just as they had the previous night, the Terriers responded by keeping their foot on the gas. They limited the Minutemen to just six more shots while unleashing 18 of their own. 

At the nine minute mark with the face off in the offensive zone, O'Brien pushed the puck forward. It was retrieved by Ethan Phillips whose pass to the high slot was lasered home by Zabaneh for his first goal of the season.

Brady was called for a tripping  penalty on the goal, putting the Terriers on the power play and they quickly cashed in.  Brown's pass attempt was deflected of a UMass stick but picked up by O'Brien. The senior center, who had hit a crossbar earlier in the contest, closed to the right shot. He ripped a shot high to the glove side past Brady. Skoog, who picked up an assist, moved in front of the goalie at the right moment to take away his eyes. 


The goal was the first of the season for O'Brien, who hadn't lack for opportunities, but had seen no puck luck.  

“Our players were really happy for him — same thing with Wilmer Skoog last night. They were really happy to see those two guys contribute because, you know, I think our team knows that those guys put a lot of pressure on themselves to produce for our team” Pandolfo said

Commesso won his third straight game since returning to the line-up. For the weekend he turned aside 50 shots for a .943 save percentage, allowing just one even-strength goal.

BU now has a 6-0-1 record against UMass in the past seven meetings. Following all of Saturday night's Division 1 games, BU sat atop the Pairwise rankings. 



● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights & post-game: O’Brien, Zabaneh, Pandolfo

● Boston Hockey Blog recap

● USCHO recap

Looking ahead

2023 recruit Jack Harvey scored a pair of goals for the fourth consecutive game but the Steel was edged by Cedar Rapids on a shootout, 6-5.

2023 recruit Shane Lachance scored his seven and eighth goals as Youngstown rallied from a 5-2 deficit to tie the score, but fell to Dubuque in shootout, 6-5. 2024 recruit Brandon Svoboda assist on Lachance’s second goal.

2023 recruit Anton Castro stopped 16 shots for Fargo as the Force doubled up Green Bay, 6-3. The Mendota Heights, Minnesota, native gained his fourth win of the season.

Team USA claimed the World U17 Challenge gold medal with an 11-3 win against Canada Red. 2024 recruit Cole Hutson recorded his ninth assist, tops among all defensemen in the tournament.


Women’s Team

Terriers defeated #13 Vermont, 4-3, on Lacey Martin’s goal just 19 seconds into overtime at Gutterson Field House in Burlington. It was the junior forward’s second of the game and third of the year.

BU took a first period 2-1 lead following power play goals by Julia Nearis and Martin before the Catamounts responded with two woman-advantage tallies to claim the lead late in the third period. Madison Cardaci knoted the scored at 15:29, setting the table for Martin’s heroics,

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score


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