Terrier Hockey’s Disappointing Beanpot Finish
BU Men’s Hockey’s performance in the third-place match of Beanpot leaves Terriers hurting.
By Allyn Tucker
Photo by BU Today
Following their tough loss to Northeastern, Boston University’s Men’s Hockey fell 4-2 to rival Boston College in the third-place match of Boston’s Beanpot tournament. These two losses are just two of the Terriers’ most recent four in a losing streak they hope to break.
Boston University entered the tournament ranked third in the nation, in a weekly poll conducted by U.S. College Hockey Online, but two back-to-back losses at TD Garden earned them a fourth-place finish in the tournament. The Terriers have since fallen in the USCHO national rankings and are looking to rediscover their form in the last three weeks of collegiate hockey’s regular season.
BU looked disorganized from the beginning of the matchup, trailing Boston College within the first two minutes of play. The Terriers never held a lead during the game, tying the Eagles in the third period for just 27 seconds before giving up two more goals to end the match. This loss comes less than two weeks after BU swept Boston College in a home and away series of Hockey East play.
“We’re going to need to reset here and find our game again moving forward,” Terriers' Coach Jay Pandolfo told the BU Athletics post-game. “For whatever reason, we’re not where we need to be right now.”
Nikita Nesterenko opened the scoring for Boston College, followed by a power-play goal from Eamon Powell with eight minutes remaining in the first period. Boston University’s Ryan Greene quickly responded, finishing a chance assisted primarily by Quinn Hutson to end the first period only one goal behind.
After a penalty-filled second period, with no goals to show for either team, Boston University’s Jay O’Brien ended the scoring deadlock nine minutes into the final period, however, the Terriers’ surge did not last long. A quick response from Boston College’s Andre Gasseau followed by another Eagles consolation goal swiped away BU’s chances of securing third place.
“Sometimes it feels like we want an easy game,” Pandolfo said. “I don’t know if we’re tired, but there are certain things we have to look at to try and find a solution.”
Terrier Men’s Hockey’s final home game of the regular season will be played this weekend, March 3 and 4, against Providence College, in what they hope to be a celebration of winning ways.