Two out of three ain't bad

Hockey
Jeremy Rice

UMass 5, BU 3 - FINAL

The Massachusetts hockey team made a living out of doing it last season, and if you're going to choose a period to take off, the least of three evils would be the second period.

That seems to be the Minutemen's strategy once again this season. After winning a hard-fought first period, 2-1, Boston University owned the second period and tied the game at two.

The Minutemen made good, however, on the latter end of their bargain with a convincing three-goal third period to knock off the Terriers on the road for the first time since the 2003-04 season, when UMass won, 2-1, on Jan. 7, 2004. That was the same year as the team's only Hockey East Finals appearance, a 2-1, triple-overtime loss to Maine.

UMass took a 3-2 lead near the seven-minute mark with a power play goal by freshman Chase Langeraap, who won out a tussle in front of the net. BU responded with Pete MacArthur's second goal of the game. MacArthur earned the top Star of the Game honor despite being on the losing side, with two goals and an assist.

MacArthur took a pass at the right goal post, and UMass goaltender Paul Dainton had no chance, as MacArthur lifted the puck over Dainton's left shoulder.

Will Ortiz notched the game-winner for UMass with 6:46 remaining. Freshman Shawn Saunders dug the puck out from behind the net and slung it out to Justin Braun at the top of the right circle. Braun's shot on goal deflected out to Ortiz low on the left side.

Ortiz punched it right back on net, beating Brett Bennett for the deciding score. P.J. Fenton added insurance with an empty-net goal at 19:29, his first goal of the season.

The moods of the two coaches were as different as a power play goal and an empty netter. UMass coach Don Cahoon credited his team for its persistence, and resilience after allowing a goal on the first shift of the game.

BU's headman Jack Parker called his penalty kill units "inept," and noted the significant advantage UMass had on faceoffs as a major difference in the game.

The Minutemen will be back in the eastern part of the state tomorrow night to face UMass Lowell. The sister schools fought to a 2-2 tie earlier this season.