Men’s Hockey: BU Falls to UConn in First Hockey East Matchup of the Season

By Mel Mastela

During their first conference match of the season, the Boston University Men’s Hockey (2-3-1-, 0-1-0 HE) faced a grueling 8-4 defeat by the University of Connecticut (3-2-0, 1-0-0 HE) on Friday.

“I can’t handle like just playing losing hockey, and that’s what that was,” Head Coach Jay Pandolfo said as his main takeaway from the match. “It was losing hockey. 2-0 lead, 3-2 lead, lead, 4-3 lead, and you lose 8-4. It’s actually embarrassing. So I don’t know.”

Immediately off the faceoff, BU had strong possession of the puck, keeping it in the offensive zone.

With an assist behind the goal from defensemen Aiden Celebrini, forward Owen McLaughlin scored his first goal as a Terrier, giving BU an early 1-0 lead in the first frame.

Not even two minutes later, forward Cole Eisermen found the back of the net with an assist from forward Ryder Ritchie, bringing the Terriers to 2-0 in the first half of the period.

“They don’t stop,” Pandolfo said when asked about UConn’s play. “ They got down 2-0, do they stop playing? Nope…They kept coming after us. They’re diving in front of pucks. They just wanted it a little bit more.”

Finally responding to the Terrier aggression, UConn forward Carlin Dezainde managed to narrow the gap and score past BU goaltender Mikhail Yegorov, giving the Huskies their first point in the back half of the frame.

Tying the game 2-2, Husky forward Jake Richard capitalized on the player advantage and scored off an assist by forward Ethan Whitcomb.

With less than a minute left in the period, the teams left the ice tied 2-2 after UConn found its footing in the back half.

Knocking them off their feet, McLaughlin scored his second goal of his Terrier career with an assist from forward Jack Harvey immediately after entering the second frame, giving BU back the lead.

A quick save in front of the Terriers’ net did not stop UConn forward Joey Muldowney from tying the game 3-3 with an assist from Whitcomb four minutes into the second.

BU forward Jack Murtagh immediately replied after racing down the ice against the Huskies, scoring with an assist from defensemen Malte Vass, bringing the score to 4-3.

Nine minutes into the frame, Huskies raced down the ice to the opposite end with Carlin putting it in the back of the net with an assist from forward Alexandrew Blais, tying the score yet again.

In the last few seconds of their power play, Husky forward Ethan Gardula gave UConn their first lead of the game with his first goal of the season, with an assist from defensemen Kai Janviriya, leaving the Terriers down 4-5.

The middle frame ended with 4-on-4 play after a cross-checking minor on BU forward Mick Frechette and a minor interference on Dezainde.

Still 4-on-4, the teams entered the ice in the last period looking to win in their first conference match of the season.

Seconds into the final frame, UConn defenseman Tom Messineo shot the puck behind Yegorov from the blue line, widening their lead to 6-4.

BU made the switch in their goal to Max Lacroix after the goal.

“I considered it after the second,” Pandolfo said about switching goalies. “I’m not putting it on him [Yegorov]…we have to be way better in front of him…After that one went in, I just felt like maybe, you know, we get a spark, we put Max in there.”

Quick off a pass from UConn forward Mike Murtagh, nine minutes into the frame, forward Tabor Heaslip shot the puck over Lacroix’s head, stretching their lead to 7-3.

After quickly losing their lead, the Terriers were frustrated. The Huskies only increased their aggression, while the Terriers’ play declined throughout the game.

With just over a minute left in the frame, Gardula doubled the score with an empty netter, and the stands started to empty as BU faced a now 8-4 defeat.

“Play the game the right way is what I want to change,” Pandolfo said.

The Terriers are looking to reset and get a win in Storrs, CT on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. This game will be available for streaming on ESPN+.