(14Nov98)  Saturday evening at Matthews Arena, the Northeastern Huskies were
overcome by the Eagles of Boston College 3-6.  The Huskies first-year
goaltender Jason Braun held his team in this match, but gradually BC turned on
its dynamic edge and won a split in this home and home series.
 
The first period was pedestrian.  Both squads seemed to be limbering up from
the previous night.  Northeastern scored first on a 5 on 3 power play when
fantastic fresher Jim Fahey (Roger Holeczy) nailed his point shot low through
the goalie's pads.  Fahey reads the game so well. He saw his opportunity and
gave the Huskies the early lead.  Boston College came back with a nice power
play goal from defender Mike Mottau (Brian Gionta).  Gionta had taken the puck
behind the net and waited to release the telling pass to Mottau (the trailer)
who quickly banged it home.  Jeff Farkas (Gionta, Chris Masters) made it 1-2
Eagles when he went on a wheel and deal and fired one in.
 
As the middle term began, play opened up and there was some good end-to-end
action.  The Huskies tied the match when first-year Willie Levesque (Holeczy)
was credited with a goal after Holeczy's shot had dribbled in.  BC had just
missed a great chance at the other end before this Husky lamplighter.  However
after the contest was tied, both teams played it tight.  It was pretty obvious
that Boston College had the talent to blow must teams off the ice, so what
were they waiting for?  NU's Braun was playing very good, but not that good.
At last, during a BC power play, Blake Bellefeuille (Bobby Allen, Gionta) gave
the Eagles the 2-3 lead.  The tally came off a floater from the point that was
deflected in.  Boston College had poured on the pressure and were starting to
look sharp.  In the last few seconds, Gionta pulled off an ooh-la-la goal when
he danced up ice past the NU defenders, and while off balance nicked the puck
into the net.  Lovely goal!
 
BC used the momentum from that marvelous marker to find its flowing style in
the third.  Bellefeuille (Andy Powers, Brooks Orpik) made the clinical finish
after a delightful 1-2-3 break-in play to make it 2-5 Eagles.  Masters (Ales
Dolinar, Matt Mulhern) extended the lead when he poked home a rebound when
Northeastern couldn't clear the puck.  In general, NU's tenacious checking
schemes, coupled with too many dubious penalties was not enough of a game
plan.  The Huskies closed out the scoring when John Peterman (Holeczy)
completed a fine passing play during a 4 on 3 power play.
 
Boston College has a ton of skilled players.  They appear to like to linger
and figure out what their competitor is about before delivering their
rebuttal.  When the Eagles do let fly, they are wonderful to watch.  The
entire defensive unit is splendid.  Hughes & Scuderi, Buckley & Orpik and
Allen & Mottau move, pass and mark so well.  Mottau put out a very powerful
performance against the Huskies.  His ability to read and make it happen was
outstanding.  The line of Tony Hutchins, Masters and Kevin Caulfield looked
good together.  They could really roll with the puck.  The power play unit of
Allen, Mottau, Bellefeuille, Farkas and Gionta was superb.  They can generate
some impressive movement that results in deadly chances.  The partnership of
Farkas and Gionta is lovely.  You take the control power game of Farkas and
blend that with the effervescent drive of Gionta and you have stellar hockey.
The man of the match was Gionta.  He takes a beating and keeps on dancing.
Whenever Gionta touches the puck, something magical may happen.  Overall, BC
looks good!
 
"They were stupid enough to [play loud pop music], and unfortunate enough to
[think that was a plus]."
 
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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