(Box from BC game summary sheet) Friday, January 3, 2003 at Kelley Rink (Conte Forum), Chestnut Hill, MA UMA 3, BC 2 HOCKEY EAST GAME ------------------------------------------------------------------------ UMASS-AMHERST (HE) 0 2 1 - 3 (11-7-1 overall, 5-5-0 HE) BOSTON COLLEGE (HE) 1 1 0 - 2 (10-5-3 overall, 6-3-1 HE) Shots on Goal Pen - Min Power Play UMA 7-14- 8 -- 29 6 - 12 2 - 5 BC 6- 9- 8 -- 23 6 - 12 0 - 5 UMA- Gabe Winer 5- 8- 8 - 21 saves/2 goals (60:00) BC - Matti Kaltiainen 7-12- 7 - 26 saves/3 goals (59:18) Referee - Tim Benedetto Assistants - Tom Quinn, Chris Aughe Attendance - 5874 1st Period BC1 Dave Spina 8 (Ryan Murphy) SHG 17:50 Penalties UMA - Michael Mullen (tripping) 3:04 UMA - Mike Warner (charging) 4:12 BC - Andrew Alberts (hitting after whistle) 4:12 BC - Ryan Murphy (hooking) 5:09 BC - Tony Voce (holding) 17:31 2nd Period BC2 Anthony D'Arpino 2 (Justin Dziama, Ned Havern) 5:13 UMA1 Thomas Pock 7 (Matt Anderson, Stephen Werner) 12:50 UMA2 Greg Mauldin 10 (Matt Anderson, Stephen Werner) PPG 16:02 Penalties UMA - Matt Walsh (charging) 9:54 BC - J.D. Forrest (holding) 15:12 3rd Period UMA3 Chris Capraro 3 (Mike Warner, Tim Turner) PPG 15:45 GWG Penalties BC - Chris Collins (high-sticking) 0:14 UMA - Thomas Pock (high-sticking) 0:41 BC - Andrew Alberts (charging) 13:52 UMA - Sean Regan (charging) 15:48 UMA - Thomas Pock (holding) 19:54 3 Stars - 1. UMA- Chris Capraro (1G) 2. BC - Anthony D'Arpino (1G) 3. UMA- Matt Anderson (2A) University of Massachusetts - Amherst F Chris Capraro, Mike Warner, Tim Turner Greg Mauldin, Matt Anderson, Stephen Werner PETER ALDEN, TIM VITEK, MICHAEL MULLEN Peter Trovato, Matt Walsh, Josh Hanson D SEAN REGAN, NICK KUIPER Thomas Pock, Marvin Degon Dustin Demaniuk, Jeff Lang G GABE WINER, Tim Warner, Michael Waidlich Boston College: F CHRIS COLLINS, BEN EAVES, STEPHEN GIONTA Tony Voce, Ty Hennes, Dave Spina Ryan Murphy, Ned Havern, A.J. Walker Anthony D'Arpino, Justin Dziama D ANDREW ALBERTS, J.D. FORREST John Adams, Peter Harrold Brett Peterson, Bill Cass Ben Lovejoy G MATTI KALTIAINEN, Tim Kelleher, Robbie Miller COMMENTS -------- The University of Massachusetts continued its surprising rise in Hockey East with a hard-fought, physical come-from-behind win over Boston College Friday night, 3-2. Chris Capraro's power-play goal late in the third period provided the winning margin for the Minutemen, who are now 9-3-1 in their last 13 games. BC, already missing forwards due to injury and the World Junior Championships, lost captain Ben Eaves to a groin injury in the 2nd period and had several other players off the ice at various points with difficulties following hard hits or collisions. UMass carried play from the mid-point of the game onward and was able to fight back from a 2-0 deficit to move to .500 in the league. They skated only one senior on the night and are beginning to show confidence in their skating and abilities, backstopped by strong goaltending by frosh Gabe Winer. The first period gave signs of how the game would go with physical play and tough defensive work by both teams early on. A flurry of early penalties seemed to indicate a tightly-called game by the referee, but through much of the remainder of the game there were lots of hard hits and questionable holding and stick work but few penalties called. UMass had the better of the physical play, larger than BC and able to slow down the quick forwards for the Eagles. Neither team had any significant chances through most of the period, with most shots from outside or at bad angles, and the goalies were able to handle those. Ben Eaves first went off injured around the 15-minute mark, and though he played some late in the first period, he was effectively out for the rest of the game. This meant the Eagles were playing without 3 of their top 5 forwards, particularly their best playmaking centers (with Ryan Shannon at the World Juniors) and this made their offense much less effective. That said, it was 2 of the sophomores who scored the first goal, a shorthanded one for BC. Ryan Murphy stole the puck inside the BC zone and skated to neutral ice. His pass forward was too long and the UMass defense was able to get to it first, but the attempted clear bounced off the charging Dave Spina and he was able to skate in alone on Winer. He held it until inside the right circle and then fired a sharp wrister high to the far side for the first score. The second period started similar to the first, with physical play and big hits. It was the third line for BC (one of their most effective on the night) which scored the 2nd goal. Cycling down low by Ned Havern and Justin Dziama got the puck to the boards at the left side, where Dziama sent a sharp pass to an unmarked Anthony D'Arpino between the circles. His one-timer zipped by Winer to make the score 2-0 for the Eagles. After the goal, however, it was UMass that seemed to get energy, picking up their pressure and getting some offense. Tim Vitek spun to the net for a stuff attempt but was stoned, Capraro fed Mike Warner for a slap shot from the slot, and Kaltiainen was forced to make 2 big saves in close after BC was unable to clear a bouncing puck. Following some physical play Matt Walsh took a 30-foot charge into Steve Gionta for a penalty, giving BC a chance to relieve some of the pressure. Chris Collins went off after being run head-first into the end boards with some temporary wooziness, and Ned Havern was sprung for clean break-in on Winer. He had the goalie off- balance but Winer flashed his catching glove to rob the Eagle forward. The gave the Minutemen energy again and it paid off a few minutes later. A BC forward was pulled off the puck on a rush and UMass went the other way on a 3-on-2 counter. Nick Anderson drove deep down the right side and sent a pass to the slot, where Thomas Pock one-timed a low shot past Kaltiainen. UMass continued pressure on offense and were forechecking aggressively against BC, and forced the Eagles to take a penalty. After good puck movement by the Minutemen, they got it back to the right point to Anderson, where he sent a cross-ice pass to Greg Mauldin in the left circle. He controlled it, then fired a hard wrist shot high into the net before Kaltiainen could come across to cover the open side. Both teams scrambled for shots late in the period but it ended with a 2-2 deadlock. BC got a low shot early in the third on a 4-on-4 but it trickled wide after the save. Ned Havern got crunched on the boards and went off dinged. Play was pretty physical, with UMass taking advantage of the fact that little was being called, using their size advantage to disrupt the BC offense. The Eagles pushed forward hard looking for the lead, having their most effective offense since early in the game. Tony Voce was set up in front by Collins, only to shoot his quick shot into the goalie's glove. Several shots were whistled wide, and Voce circled the net to wrap to the front only to see his shot saved again. UMass had their own chance when a defenseman fell down for BC, but the save was made. BC pressured again, with Collins stealing the puck in close but Winer was equal to the task. BC was working deep in the UMass zone when Andrew Alberts pinched down from the point and took a charging penalty. UMass went almost the whole power play with good possession and shots. Mauldin fired from a low angle, Pock forced a big leg pad save on a slapper, then hit the post on a subsequent outside shot. BC finally got the puck out and were up ice trying to forecheck when they got caught out of position. The Minutemen quickly countered and had a 2-on-1 break. Mike Warner carried the puck into the zone down the right side, held, and then passed across to Capraro down the left. He hammered a shot 18 inches off the ice into the open left side for the eventual game-winner. Sean Regan took a very dumb penalty right off the ensuing faceoff, charging into the faceoff area and clouting Ty Hennes of the Eagles, giving BC a late power play opportunity. Most of the power play was quiet, with BC having a hard time getting the puck forward, but eventually they did get it in and set up a 1-timer in the slot. Winer got a piece of the puck but it trickled through his pads slid toward the goal, stopping partway across (but not all the way across) the goal line. After that the Eagles could not get clear of the UMass checking for any shots and time ran out for a well- deserved UMass win. Most people would consider this a big upset, given the BC history and early season success, but UMass was the stronger team in this game overall, skating better and executing on power plays much better than the Eagles. BC was not very effective on faceoffs with their best centers missing, and UMass was able to frustrate the forwards with physical play. Early in the season BC jumped on UMass early, taking advantage of speed and weak goaltending to build a big lead and coasting to a 6-0 win in Amherst. But it was that game that got Coach Cahoon to replace Tim Warner in goal with Gabe Winer, and he has played well for the Minutemen. Combine that with better skating, aggressive play, and some confidence, and it is clear that better times are coming for UMass. They have only 2 seniors on the roster, Tim Turner and Kelly Sickavish (who has been out several games with illness.) The young team is playing like they believe in themselves, unaware or uncaring about UMass's previous lack of success. Now they have to learn to play consistently and take advantage of their abilities. (As I write this UMass is playing Providence at Amherst and are behind PC 1-0 after 1 period.) After Sunday's game with Providence they have a home-and-home next week with Merrimack. Boston College has definitely hit a bad stretch after so much early season success. Part of that is injury, part is other teams learning how to play against the BC speed (and lack of size.) BC still is in second place in Hockey East but is only 2-5-2 in the last 9 games. (To be sure, that has been against some tough competition -- UNH, Maine twice, Dartmouth, Harvard, Minnesota included.) BC is still a relatively young team and is having to learn to overcome the injuries and travails of a tough Hockey East schedule. But current trends are not promising. The Eaves' brothers are out with injury, several other forwards are not performing to their capability, the defensemen are not very skilled offensively (which particularly hurts the power play), and the less-skilled players are not comfortable when they have been pressed into more critical positions. Overall the defense and goaltending have been adequate, it has been the reduction in offense that has hurt the team. They scored 45 goals in the first 9 games (5 GPG) and only 26 in the last 9 games (2.89 GPG.) There is still plenty of talent there but right now they need to reach down and learn to play a bit differently to regain their scoring touch. Given the difficulty across the entire Hockey East schedule, that will be hard to achieve. We shouldn't be too down on the Eagles, though. By some relatively objective measures, they have played one of the top 2 toughest schedules in the country, they are still in 2nd place in the league, and the ranking systems still have them in the top 10. If they can turn around and play well next week in a home-and-home against UMass-Lowell (still winless in league play) then they will have a strong position leading into the second half of Hockey East play. Rick McAdoo "Volunteer reporter" A content BC fan. GO EAGLES!