Saturday, October 09, 2021

Terriers rally past UConn, Women edge #2 Northeastern UPDATED

Two years ago, BU opened its season at Union College and put seven pucks past the Dutchmen’s goalie Darion Hanson including then freshman Robert Mastrosimone’s first career goal. Last night, the #10 Terriers faced Hanson, now a graduate transfer at UConn, again and rallied to score twice in the final six minutes for a 2-1 win in the opener of the program’s 100th season at Hartford’s XL Center. Junior Sam Stevens provided the equalizer and Mastrosimone delivered the game-winner on a power play.

Both goalies put on a show with sophomore Drew Commesso making 33 saves—several simply spectacular—while Hanson, who stymied BU for the first 54 minutes, foiled 43 Terrier attempts.

BU came out of the gate exactly the way Coach Albie O’Connell wanted—fast and aggressive—dominating play and outshooting UConn, 19-10. But the Huskies produced the period’s only score. At 5:04, Vladislav Firstov broke into the BU zone, one-on-one, out-muscled a defender and beat Commesso.

With BU on a power play midway through the period, sophomore Luke Tuch’s shot from below the right circle trickled through Hanson, but was swept away just before it could cross the goal line. Moments later, Tuch challenged Hanson again with a blast from the left circle (video). Then, with the teams skating four a side, grad student Max Kaufman used his speed to get to the net, but was stuffed by Hanson.

When a hooking penalty on Mastrosimone gave UConn the man-advantage, Commesso slammed the door with a pair of saves on close-in shots.

Second period shots favored the Huskies, 13-11, and the hosts had the better opportunities. They were on the power play in the waning seconds of period when Commesso went post-to-post to rob Kevin O’Neil with a five-bells glove save. Not only did the save make ESPN's Top 10, it was #1!

Stevens’ faceoff violation penalty at the end of the second period gave UConn a two-man advantage for a minute to begin the third, but BU’s penalty killers were up to the task. Terriers pressed for an equalizer throughout the period. With nine minutes remaining, Mastrosimone set up an unmarked Ethan Phillips in the slot for a hard wrister that Hanson stopped.

BU finally connected with six minutes left in regulation. Junior Dom Fensore raced into the UConn zone, went wide at the left circle and sent a shot off the side of the cage. As he circled the net, Fensore nudged the puck back toward the left post. Stevens, following the play, controlled the puck from behind the goal line and tucked it home to knot the score at one apiece. Ty Gallagher had the second assist.

Half a minute later, Husky Captain Carter Turnbull was called for boarding and the Terriers took advantage. Case McCarthy’s shot from center point caromed off the end board into the slot. Wilmer Skoog’s backhand attempt was blocked but the puck slid to Mastrosimone in the right circle and the East Islip, N.Y., native buried it for the game-winner.

BU went one out of four on power plays, while Terrier penalty killers, backed by Commesso’s magic, were a perfect four-for-four.

BU held the edge in face off wins, 34 to 32, with Jay O’Brien (15 of 26) and Stevens (7 of 11) leading the way.

Assessing the win, O’Connell noted that "anytime you can get those points in Hockey East, especially on the road, especially versus one of the better teams in our league. “UConn was very hard to deal with tonight. It wasn’t easy. It took a lot of effort.

“I thought Dom [Fensore] was dynamite tonight," he continued. "It was tough seeing him get hit with the way he did, but he’s like a rubber ball out there. He bounced right back up and makes a huge play — and a bunch of huge plays down the stretch– and he definitely looked like he had his skating legs early on in the game.”

“Our fourth line was terrific, he added. "Stevens with another goal, and then you get a power play goal when you need it, so [I’m] pretty pleased with the group. I really like our leadership and our effort."

O'Connell was less pleased with the three first-period power play opportunities: “We’re a little slow on the breakout and then in the zone, and once we did get [the power play] set up, we didn’t get enough shots. We had multiple opportunities to shoot the puck and we didn’t. If you don’t establish your shot, you’re not gonna have a good power play.”

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights

● Boston Hockey Blog recap 

● WTBU Sports recap


 Defkit's Terrier Takeaway

- Lots to like about the Terriers performance, and some areas they need to work on. First and foremost, 45 shots on goal, and outshooting the opponent - it rarely happened a year ago. The depth of this roster, with four lines that can generate offense, was the main reason why. BU won the face off battle 34 to 32, which would also be an improvement. On the negative side, similar to last year, the team really struggled for most of the second period - somehow the long change just creates challenges. 

-Terriers more than held their own on 50-50 physical puck battles.

- Sam Stevens definitely has found another gear. Earlier in the third period before he scored, he almost scored shorthanded on a hustle play that saw the rebound of a Cockerill shot be just out of his reach with an open net awaiting. Short of his bad penalty covering the puck on the face-off with 3 seconds left in the second period, I thought he played great.

- It seemed like the O'Brien-Peterson-Tuch line saw the most ice time. O'Brien was being an effective agitator, especially with Kondelik (who is huge). After every whistle and before many faceoffs, the linesmen had to get in between them. [Editor's note: O'Brien who struggled on draws last week won 15 of 26; Kondelik, whom O'Connell called "one of the best" at the dot was held to 7 of 25]

- Thought Tuch was off of his game other than the time he was all alone in front, and the last few minutes of the game.

- Thought the refs had an okay night. But the third call against UConn (tripping against Shlaine) was a bad one, so they made up for it with the terrible call on Mastro who was simply lifting the guy's stick in a very nice play to almost create a shorthanded chance. The call on Peterson just before that, where he flicked the UConn players' stick in the air, was just a smart play by the Husky. I'm sure he just lightened his grip on the stick, knowing that the refs were looking to call something on BU, given the crowds' displeasure with the tripping call on Shlaine.

- Gallagher will be a good player, but he was beaten for the first goal and took at least one penalty (maybe two?).

- Commesso was outstanding, other than letting that early goal in. His amazing save in the second period could be a "save of the year" candidate. The puck was labeled for the far corner.

- Matt Brown is a crafty player. He is a huge addition. Strong on the puck, wins battles, and finds his linemates. Tristan Amonte held his own. Carrabes struggled a little, but got a couple late shifts. Boucher is a beast with the puck - similar to Peterson but with a little more skill. Kaufmann had some nice moves early on - things we didn't see from him last year. To have that on the fourth line is great.

- I was a little surprised that Zabaneh wasn't in the lineup. Maybe coach wanted more size. And I'm curious as to what is going on with Ty Amonte and Jarman. 


Looking ahead

2022 recruit Jeremy Wilmer scored his third goal and added an assist in Tri-City's 6-2 win against Waterloo. 

2023 recruit Jack Musa scored his second goal in Madison's 5-1 win against Youngstown.

Women’s Team

 

Terriers combined a pair of power play tallies and the netminding brilliance of senior Kate Stuart to upset #2 Northeastern, 2-1, in BU’s home opener at Walter Brown Arena. The win improved BU’s record to 3-0-0 with a Saturday visit to New Hampshire for a 2 p.m. game on tap.

 

After a scoreless opening period, all the goals would be registered in the second period and all with a man advantage. At the 10:12 mark, senior Jesse DeVito controlled the puck behind the NU net and found sophomore Julia Shaunessy in the high slot for a blast and a 1-0 BU lead. Senior Courtney Correia also assist.

 

Five minutes later BU was on the power play again. Shaunessy’s rocket from center point lay loose outside the crease. Junior Julia Nearis and junior Brooke Ersoy each took a whack at it, but freshman Christina Vote slid it home for the eventual game winner and her first collegiate goal.

 

Stuart, who turned aside 35 Northeastern shots and earned the game's first star, saved her best for the final two minutes of the game, flashing the pads to stop two point-blank scoring attempts.

● GoTerriers.com recap and comprehensive box score

● Video highlights

● Post-game comments

 

 

 

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