In their third matchup of the season, No. 1 Boston College defeated No. 8 UMass Lowell in a 4-0 shutout. Sophomore goalie Jan Korec had 22 saves, his second impressive season start, while Ryan Leonard scored his second hat trick in two weeks. The two teams previously met on Dec. 6th, a game that ended in a tie, and Dec. 9th, with the Eagles stealing a 3-2 victory.
The Eagles’ energy was palpable in Friday’s game against Lowell after a sweep of the rival Boston University Terriers. As both teams unleashed many big hits from the get-go, the game was extremely physical. Despite the eight combined power plays, both teams failed to capitalize on the opportunities. That said, star forward Ryan Leonard had no trouble scoring, with three goals to put the nail in the River Hawk-shaped-coffin. Sophomore Gabe Perrault also secured a goal in the first, with the puck bouncing off his skate into the net. Overall, it was a fantastic night for the two Hobey Baker finalists, strengthening their campaigns with strong performances in another top-10 matchup.
However, it wasn’t just the two sophomores who found success on Friday night. Nine Eagles gained a point, making for an electric environment every time they saw the net. Drew Fortescue and James Hagens assisted Leonard’s first goal three minutes into the first. Hagens also assisted Perrault with Teddy Stiga. Andre Gasseau and Aidan Hreschuck assisted Leonard’s second at the beginning of the third period. Oskar Jellvick and Michael Hagens assisted Leonard’s third as he brought the puck around the net for one of his most impressive goals of the season. It was a stellar offensive performance from the Eagles, providing some confidence for the Beanpot, starting on February 3rd.
Along with the offensive success, credit has to be given to Korec, who was outstanding in just his second start of the season. It was his second shutout of his collegiate career and BC’s seventh of the season. For such a fast-paced, aggressive game, Korec held his composure and didn’t give the River Hawks a chance to shorten the lead.
Boston College is now 19-4-1 and maintains its position at the top of the nation’s rankings. The 72nd Men’s Beanpot is approaching, with a semifinal game against Northeastern on February 3rd. Despite their success over the past few years, the Eagles have the longest Beanpot championship drought (nine years) of the competing schools. They hope to redeem themselves from a 4-2 loss to Northeastern earlier this season. Hopefully, their seven-game win streak will propel them to the Final on February 10th.
Summers in the Newton Woods; advocate for the State of Washington.
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