Men’s Hockey: No. 5 Terriers Fall 4-3 in OT For Fourth Consecutive Loss
By Gracie Davenport
Cover Photo Credit: Joe Eachus
No. 5 Boston University Men’s Hockey (20-10-0, 14-6-0 HE) fell 4-3 in overtime to the No. 20 Merrimack College Warriors (18-12-1, 13-8-0 HE) Saturday night. The Warrior weekend sweep featured 80 penalty minutes, and last-second tallies headlined the physical matchup.
“I thought we started finding our game, there’s no question,” BU Head Coach Jay Pandolfo said. “Their goalie played well. We had some clear chances right in front of him in the third, but we couldn’t find a way to take the lead.”
The Terriers played in their first home game back at Agganis Arena since Jan. 27, and junior goaltender Drew Commesso earned his 16th consecutive start.
The Warriors, who have split time in net this season, gave the crease to sophomore goaltender Hugo Ollas — his first start since Feb. 5.
MC opened the scoring 13:13 into the first period as BU has allowed the first goal in four straight games.
Junior forward Alex Jefferies gained possession after several good saves from Commesso, and his shot from the blue line rang off the near post behind the BU netminder. Sophomore forward Matt Copponi — who opened the scoring Friday — was ready in the blue paint to tap it home for his 12th of the season.
MC doubled their lead at the 17:41 mark to make it 2-0.
Commesso tried to send the puck along the boards to freshman defenseman Lane Hutson, but it found graduate forward Mick Messner instead. Messner, who had three points on Friday, shot the puck past Commesso for his sixth of the year.
To begin the second, junior goaltender Vinny Duplessis relieved Commesso as BU rallied.
The Terriers got on the board 4:34 into the middle frame on an MC turnover. Sophomore defender Adam Arvedson’s pass was intercepted by senior forward Matt Brown at the blue line, who weaved through Warrior bodies and found the back of the net. This was Brown’s 14th of the season, and the goal ignited a fire under both sides.
“It gave us a little life,” Pandolfo said. “I think we just needed one to get our confidence … The goals haven’t been going in as easy for us, so that definitely gave us a little life.”
Already shorthanded, MC added another man to the box as their first penalty expired midway through the second period. Senior defenseman Liam Dennison elbowed senior forward Jay O’Brien up high and was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct.
On the ensuing lengthy man advantage, Hutson found freshman forward Jeremy Wilmer at the right circle. Wilmer dished the puck over to classmate Ryan Greene in the slot, who sent the puck past Ollas for his ninth of the season.
With five minutes remaining in the second period, MC’s graduate forward Will Calverley was given a five-minute major and game misconduct for cross-checking and a two-minute minor for roughing. BU also added three guys to their penalty box but ended up on a three-minute power play after some 4-on-4 play.
For the second time in the game, BU’s second power-play unit scored to give the Terriers their first lead.
Wilmer started the play and went end-to-end before dropping the puck off to Hutson. Atop the right circle, the Hobey Baker nominee shot the puck in the final second of the second period to make it 3-2. Duplessis had the secondary assist.
BU led in second-period shots on net 10-5, six of them coming on the power play.
BU was given an interference minor to open the final frame, and senior forward Ben Brar tied the game at 3-3. Duplessis was out of position, and Brar capitalized on the empty net.
“It was tough giving up that power play goal,” Pandolfo said. “For us, I know we scored two power play goals, but at the end of the day, I don’t think the power play was good enough.”
At the end of regulation, the game remained tied at 3-3 and headed to 3-on-3 overtime.
Neither side generated much momentum, but on a delayed call on BU, the Warriors sent out the extra attacker, and Brar netted the game-winner as time expired.
Following the goal, both teams stayed on the ice as the officials reviewed the play for a potential MC too-many-men call. After a lengthy review, it was determined to be a good goal.
“The review [was] for the guy jumping out too early before the goalie got to the bench,” Pandolfo said. “He definitely jumped a little early … we’ll have to talk to the officials about what the actual rule is.”
The Terriers were previously 16-0-0 record leading after two periods before Saturday night.
BU will attempt to regroup as they head north to Burlington, Vermont for a two-game road series against the University of Vermont Catamounts next weekend. The first game will take place Friday at 7 p.m.