Boston University got goals from seven different skaters on its way to a 9-1 drubbing at the hands of Vermont Friday at Gutterson Fieldhouse.
The Catamounts were outplayed in every way, getting embarrassed on their home ice. It was the worst home loss since a 10-0 whitewash by New Hampshire on Oct. 12, 2002.
“We got beat by a much better team. We played as individuals and they played as a very good team tonight,” said a frustrated UVM coach Kevin Sneddon. “They beat us in every facet of the game so there’s not much more to say, to be honest with you.
“When they are finishing more checks, blocking more shots, winning the faceoffs, winning races to loose pucks, paying the price defensively, paying the price offensively, I don’t think there was a facet in the game that we even came close to winning tonight,” he added.
The Terriers’ first line of Chris Higgins (two goals, one assist) centering Pete MacArthur (four assists) and Bryan Ewing (one goal, three assists) accounted for 11 of 26 points for the game.
“The puck was bouncing for us,” said BU coach Jack Parker. “We were making pretty plays; and we were making gritty plays; and we were getting the puck to the net.”
The Terriers started the scoring at 9:10 of the first period. Colby Cohen took a shot from the high slot that Vermont goaltender Joe Fallon (11 saves) attempted to glove but could only deflect to the left corner.
Jason Lawrence tracked down the loose puck on the goal line and flipped
a shot from a sharp angle that found its through Fallon for a 1-0 lead.
The goal was Lawrence’s fourth of the year.
That’s the way it stayed until late in period when Zach Cohen added to
the lead with his first collegiate goal. Matt Gilroy caught the UVM
defense sleeping when he found Cohen in the right circle on a backdoor
play for a one-timer at 19:43.
The Terriers held a 10-3 advantage in shots on goal in the period.
“I thought our guys played extremely well when it was a close game,”
said Parker. “We played pretty well in our own zone, and we got some
good goaltending. They had some really good chances early on in the
game-a couple of great point shots that found their way through-a
couple of good chances on the power play.
“It could’ve been a 2-1 game; or it could’ve been a 2-1 game them; and
it wasn’t. It wound up 2-0 at the end of the first, and I think that
settled us down pretty good.”
BU opened its lead to 5-1 after two, as the Catamounts’ lackadaisical
play carried over into the middle frame.
Colin Wilson made it 3-0 just 31 seconds into the period when he buried
one from the slot off of passes from Ewing and MacArthur.
Viktor Stalberg cut into the lead for Vermont, making it 3-1, 14
seconds later. He surprised BU goaltender Brett Bennett (15 saves) with
a quick shot over the shoulder from above the left circle.
That was as close as Vermont would get. Brandon Yip ripped a shot under
the crossbar from the right circle at 9:57. Fallon was pulled after the
goal in favor of Mike Spillane after the goal.
Spillane didn’t fare much better in the net, though. Zach Cohen
extended the lead at 14:21 of the period, beating the sophomore from
the left circle.
“The puck just jumped into the net,” said Parker. “Once it gets four or
five to one, the way this league is, it’s hard to score goals. So all
of a sudden, they kind of died a little bit, and we picked it up a
little bit.”
The Terriers added four more in the third, getting tallies from Ewing
(at 3:55), and two from Higgins (0:48 and 8:45). Vermont third-string
goalie Jeff Hill (four saves) played the final 9:15 of the contest
allowing Wilson’s second goal of the game at 11:54.
“I’m hoping the guys are as embarrassed as I am right now in the locker
room,” said Sneddon. That was a good old-fashioned butt-kicking, and
hey, they played great and we were awful. We just didn’t get enough
guys caring tonight, and that’s really concerning to me.”
Karson Gilespie replaced Bennett for the second half of the third and
made one save.
BU outshot UVM, 36-17 for the game. Both teams were 0-for-4 on the
power play
BU (3-5-2, 3-2-1 Hockey East) and UVM (1-5-1, 1-2-1) meet again
Saturday.
“I just told my guys, ‘I guarantee, you we won’t see the same team out
of Vermont tomorrow night,'” said Parker. “I’m worried about seeing the
same team from BU.”
