Terriers Beat Eagles at Conte, Tie at Agganis

Chris Connolly (CGS’10) recorded a penalty-shot goal and added an assist to lead the number 7/5Boston University men’s ice hockey team to a 3-1 road victory over number2/3 Boston College in the finale of a home-and-home series on December 6 at Kelley Rink. The Terriers, who ended a six-game winlessstreak against their archrival, improve to 10-4-1 overall and 5-4-1 inHockey East play.

Kieran Millan(CAS’12) recorded 18 saves in goal for the Terriers, and BC sophomore John Museregistered a 23-save performance for the Eagles, who fall to 9-5-2overall, with a 5-4-2 conference mark.

With both teams entering the weekend in search of their 10th win ofthe season, the Terriers ended up with three points following ahard-fought 1-1 tie on Friday night at Agganis Arena.

Corey Trivino(CAS’12) opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game with his firstcareer goal before Connolly drew a penalty shot on a breakaway midwaythrough the second. On the attempt, Connolly beat Muse stick side togive the visitors a 2-0 lead.

The Eagles cut the deficit in half when junior Matt Price stuffed in a rebound at the 6:01 mark of the third.

Despite late BC pressure, the Terriers hung on and added an empty-net tally in the final second when an attempt by Nick Bonino (CAS’11) to clear the puck just inside the BU zone made its way down the ice and into the net just before time ran out.

The result marked the Terriers’ first victory over the Eagles since the 2007 Beanpot championship game.

BU scored first for the seventh straight game, as Trivino convertedfrom the inside edge of the left circle following blocked shot attemptsby Connolly and cocaptain Matt Gilroy (CAS’09). Following Gilroy’s effort, the puck was in between the skates of a BCdefender and nobody but Trivino spotted it. He snuck in andsnapped the puck home for his first career tally.

In the second, Connolly drew the penalty-shot call after getting ahead of the BC defense following a great pass from Colby Cohen (CAS’11).BC’s Tommy Cross tried to interfere with Connolly as he approachedMuse, but was behind the BU rookie and got called for tripping.

Connolly calmly doubled the visitors’ lead by converting theTerriers’ first penalty-shot goal since Gregg Johnson tallied onein BU’s 6-4 home victory over Nebraska-Omaha in October 2002.

BC played its best hockey of the night in the first 10 minutes ofthe third period and was rewarded when it ended Millan’s shutout bidwith just under 14 minutes left in regulation.

Millan stopped a shot by freshman Cam Atkinson, but Price was thereto pick up the rebound and stuff it home to make it a 2-1 contest.

The Eagles had a pair of good looks in the closing minute of playwith Muse pulled. After senior John McCarthy lunged near the rightboards and chipped the puck towards the blue line in the closingseconds, Bonino made sure the puck left the zone by diving and swingingat it. His attempt produced more than he intended,as the puck slid all the way down the ice for the empty-netter.

The Terriers killed off all six of the Eagles’ power-playopportunities on the night, including four in the second period alone,but also came up short on both of their chances with the man advantage.

BU will return to action on Friday, December 12, when it closes out thefirst half of the season with a home contest against UMass Lowell. Gametime is set for 7 p.m.