Jan. 22, 2011

Box Score

Behind the career-high 41 saves of goaltender Marc Boulanger (Olds, Alta.), the River Hawks battled #3 Boston College to a narrow 5-3 loss at the Conte Forum on Saturday night.

The loss pushes UMass Lowell's record to 3-19-2 on the season and 3-15-0 in conference play. The Eagles secure a four point weekend with the win as their record jumps to 17-6-0 overall and 13-5-0 in Hockey East.

Both teams came out firing in the first, but the River Hawks caught Parker Milner (Pittsburgh, Penn.) off guard for an early score. Matt Ferreira (Brampton, Ont.) fired a shot from the far circle that was saved, bouncing behind the net. Derek Arnold (Foxboro, Mass.) tapped the rebound to Shayne Thompson (Stittsville, Ont.), who faked one way, then swung back and potted the wrap around attempt. The goal, at 7:49 into the first, was Thompson's third of the season and granted UMass Lowell a 1-0 lead.

The Eagles responded with a goal of their own after a penalty put Boston College on the power play at 9:50. While passing the puck around with speed, Brian Dumoulin (Biddeford, Maine) set up Jimmy Hayes (Dorchester, Mass.) on Boulanger's weak-side. Hayes nailed the one-timer between Boulanger's legs for his 10th goal of the year, tying the game at 1-1.

The River Hawks came back hard in the second period, weathering a heavy dose of Eagle offense and then delivering their own. Set up in the Boston College zone, Colin Wright (Burlington, Ont.) dished to Chris Ickert (Abbotsford, B.C.) at the far point. Ickert collected the pass and ripped a shot through traffic and past Milner at 10:32 into the second. The goal was the first of Ickert's career and reestablished UMass Lowell's one goal lead.

As with the first period, Boston College bounced back with a goal late in the second. On another power play, Tommy Cross (Simsbury, Conn.) buried a close ranged one-timer from Chris Kreider (Boxford, Mass.) with just 1:11 left in the frame.

The third period started cautiously, but the scoring erupted over the final nine minutes. Boston College netted two unanswered tallies at 10:57 and 15:59 from Paul Carey (Weymouth, Mass.) and Joe Whitney (Reading, Mass.), respectively, to take a 4-2 lead and control of the game.

The River Hawks would not go quietly, answering with a score just 19 seconds later to bring the game back within one. Riley Wetmore (Swanton, Vt.) picked off a clearing attempt and fed Patrick Cey (Saskatoon, Sask.) streaking down the middle. Cey beat Milner for his third goal of the year and second in as many nights.

UMass Lowell pulled its goaltender in the final minute, but the Eagles foiled the scoring attempt as Hayes filled the empty net.

Boulanger was outstanding, making countless outstretched stops en route to a career-high 41 save performance. The freshman falls to 0-7-1 on the season despite receiving Hockey East's Second Star of the Game. Boston College's Milner made just 22 stops, but picked up the win as he improved to 3-2-0 overall.

Special teams played a big role in the loss as the Eagles were 3-for-3 with the man advantage, while the River Hawks were 1-for-3 on the power play.

UMass Lowell has little time to dwell on the narrow result, hosting Bentley on Tuesday night in the Tsongas Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.