BU Bests BC, Barely, In Nation's Best Rivalry

Terriers Take 3 Points in Home and Home Series

For fans of college hockey, there is nothing quite like Boston University against Boston College. The old clash of Commonwealth Avenue rivals rarely disappoints, and this weekend’s set of contests was no different.

The first weekend of December this season showcased the Eagles at second in the nation and the Terriers sitting at seventh. Coming into the weekend, the Terriers had not defeated BC since the days when Johnny Curry patrolled between the pipes for the Scarlet & White almost two years ago.

BU’s Agganis Arena was the site of the first game of the home-and-home series. Proving that the teams could not possibly be any closer, the Terriers and Eagles skated to a one-one tie in a game marked by the intensity and physical play the rivalry is famous for.

Captains from each squad got on the board Friday. The Terriers kicked off the scoring at 11:09 of the first period. Rushing into the Eagles’ zone, Brandon Yip drew a delayed penalty on a hooking call. Yip kept his composure, however, and held on to the puck under pressure from the BC defense. Yip tossed it out in front for an un-marked John McCarthy who flicked it over John Muse for the goal.

Perhaps the Terriers celebrated a bit too much though, as just 19 seconds later BU was caught napping. Brian Gibbons zipped a pass to a streaking Brock Bradford. Bradford snuck in behind the defense on a breakaway, finding himself face to face with freshman goalie Kieran Millan. The nation’s leading scorer showed why he has 14 tallies on the year as he beat Millan to tie the game at one.

That’s exactly where it would remain for the rest of the contest. Despite the best efforts of the Terriers’ offensive unit, Muse held strong. The Terriers fired 36 shots on goal, including one from Chris Higgins off the left iron early in the third period.

Both teams had chances throughout, but neither could find the back of the net, and they packed up to be continued on Saturday.

Down the road at Conte Forum in Game 2, the Terriers unleashed some of their pent-up frustration early on. Freshman Corey Trivino made his first collegiate goal a memorable one, finding a Matt Gilroy rebound in front of Muse and pounding it home to give BU a 1-0 lead.

Freshman Chris Connolly kept the youth movement going in the second. Colby Cohen found Connolly breaking behind the BC defense on a breakaway. Tommy Cross mugged Connolly and was immediately whistled for the infraction resulting in a penalty shot.

Connolly acted like he had been there before on the penalty shot, gliding in and crossing up Muse, sneaking it past him to double the BU lead.

The Eagles would make it closer than the score indicated. They came out soaring in the third period, as Matt Price cut the lead to 2-1 at 6:01 in the third.

The BC onslaught continued, as they spent the majority of the final frame in the offensive zone. Aided by a few lucky breaks, Millan was able to keep the puck out of the net and keep his team in the lead.

Nick Bonino added an empty netter with less than a second remaining to make it 3-1 Terriers.

Millan has officially made his case to be named full-time starter. After a stellar weekend, the freshman goalie is now the proud owner of a 7-1-1 record with a 1.77 goals against average and a .923 save percentage. Coupled with Grant Rollheiser’s sore groin, it certainly seems as if Millan will be the main man for Jack Parker for some time.

BU is now 3-0-1 in their last four games after picking up three points in a huge weekend. They move to 10-4-1 on the year, including five wins against teams ranked in the top ten nationally.

BC falls to 9-5-2 on the year after a disappointing performance, especially on home ice. After two exhibition contests against New Brunswick, the Eagles will renew Hockey East Action at Vermont on January 9.

Things are looking up for the Terriers, who are sure to move up the ranks in the National Polls on Monday. They will have a chance to gain two more points in Hockey East on Friday at Agganis Arena against UMass Lowell.

--Phil DiMartino