Beanpot Double Overtime Nail-Biter: BU 3, Harvard 2

Ty Amonte (CGS’19) (center) scored the double overtime sudden death goal in the Terriers 3-2 victory against Harvard in last night’s Beanpot semifinal. The Terriers will take on Northeastern in the championship game on February 12 at TD Garden. Photo by Cydney Scott

• BU beat Harvard 3-2 in double overtime in their 2018 Beanpot semifinal game
• Ty Amonte (CGS’19) scored the game winner in double overtime
• The Terriers face Northeastern in next Monday’s championship game

The 2018 Beanpot semifinal matchup between BU and Harvard proved to be a game for the ages. In only the fourth double overtime game in the tournament’s 66-year history, Ty Amonte (CGS’19) stepped up to score the game winner. The 3-2 victory advances the Terriers to their fourth consecutive championship game next Monday, when they’ll face Northeastern.

The Terriers came into Monday night’s game with a five-game winning streak, which they extended to six games, avenging their 6-4 loss to the Crimson in the Beanpot championship game last season. It was the first tournament title Harvard had captured since 1993.

Last night’s game began with an impressive performance by BU goaltender Jake Oettinger (CGS’18), who kept the scoreboard clean for the Terriers in the first period despite Harvard’s constant pressure near the net. The Terriers faced their first obstacle when Harvard defenseman Wiley Sherman’s strike slipped between Oettinger’s legs. Fortunately, the attempt hit the left post before deflecting away.

It was quality over quantity for the Terriers, who, despite attempting nine fewer shots than the Crimson, seized on their first power play opportunity. With defenseman John Marino off the ice, Logan Cockerill (CGS’19) scored the game’s first goal, with captain Brandon Hickey (CGS’16, Questrom’18) getting the assist.

Harvard dictated the momentum in the second period, as the Terriers struggled to get a break. The Crimson took the period’s first 10 shots on goal, the most threatening coming within the first minute of the period as a direct line attempt by Ryan Donato, the national goals leader.

Jake Oettinger (CGS’18) recorded 47 saves to help the Terriers advance to the championship game. Photo by Andrew Costello

Oettinger continued to impress during the second period, stopping every attempt sent his way: a right-to-left save against Colton Kerfoot’s attempt off a rebound and later a diving effort against Donato’s shot. But the Crimson’s constant attack eventually caught up: with just over five minutes remaining in the period, Donato’s assist found Ty Pelton-Byce, who scored on a wide-open net to tie the game.

In the third period, both teams were on the offensive. Just 32 seconds into the period, Hickey put the Terriers up again with his first career Beanpot goal. After his initial attempt was blocked by Harvard goaltender Merrick Madsen, Hickey quickly picked up his own miss to put the Terriers up, 2-1. But Harvard just as quickly silenced the Terrier cheering section. About a minute and half after Hickey’s goal, Harvard freshman Jack Badini tied the game from the left after rebounding Nathan Krusko’s attempt from the right. After a constant back-and-forth for the remainder of the frame, the game entered overtime.

The first overtime was a series of close opportunities that never converted. The Terriers struck first, as Amonte inched his way near the goal, only to be stopped by Madsen moments later. Harvard was up next: Jacob Olson threatened to score before slipping and missing the chance. After the two teams traded scares, another Terrier opportunity came when John MacLeod (CGS’16, CAS’18) cannoned a long shot to the left side of the net. The effort was again stopped by Madsen.

With three minutes remaining in the period, the Terriers again saw an opening. Cockerill found an open Dante Fabbro (CGS’19), who took a distance shot. Madsen attempted the catch, but was unable to hold on to the puck. After a series of roars from the Dog Pound, Madsen secured the fumble.

Double overtime.

Less than two minutes into the period, in the most intense moment of the night, it was freshman Amonte who won the game for the Terriers. He took the puck from the AT&T logo, crossed through the centerline and back before taking it all by himself to the right side of the ice and scoring the sudden death goal to win the game.

It was a moment that recalled another Beanpot tournament 27 years earlier. Amonte’s father, Tony Amonte (CAS’92), was voted Beanpot MVP following the BU 1991 Beanpot championship.

When the Terriers hit the ice next Monday against Northeastern, they’ll be hoping for a repeat of 2015, when they bested Harvard in the semifinal and took down Northeastern in the championship game, earning their 30th Beanpot trophy. The Huskies, who beat Boston College 3-0 in Monday’s opening match, will be on a mission for their first championship since 1988.

History favors BU, which has beaten the Huskies in 18 of their last 20 Beanpot matchups. But the Terriers should expect a tough challenge—they lost both their games against Northeastern this season.

The 66th Annual Men’s Beanpot Tournament: The BU men’s ice hockey team will play Northeastern in the championship game next Monday, February 12, at 7:30 pm, preceded by the consolation game between Harvard and Boston College at 4:30 pm, both at TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston. Purchase tickets on Ticketmaster or Stubhub. The games will be televised live on NESN and broadcast live on WTBU Radio (640 AM and 89.3 FM) and on the Terrier Sports Radio Network.

Jonathan Chang can be reached at jchang19@bu.edu.