BC hockey notebook: Looking ahead to first doubleheader weekend
Following up last week's exhilarating season-opening win at Quinnipiac, Boston College looked to build on the momentum. With a record-setting student crowd in attendance, BC rebounded from a slow start and picked up the 4-2 win over LIU where they outshot the Sharks 38-12.
"I thought, you know, our first shift of the game was outstanding," Greg Brown said following the win Saturday. "But then it looked like we didn't quite have that edge for a lot of the first period and they made some plays. One to keep us out of the middle to get chances, but also opportunistic to capitalize. when they got down in our zone they created some good shots, so I didn't think it looked as bad as being down two nothing early, but the positive side of that is we kind of gathered ourselves on the bench, the guys did stay very positive and were able to come back and be tied by the end of the period."
The Sharks were clearly outmatched, as after the early deficit the Eagles responded with two goals in the first period from Jack Malone and Drew Fortescue. BC then piled on two more for the victory within three minutes of each other in the second period, as Andre Gasseau and Oskar Jellvik added their names to the scoresheet.
"I think we had a couple of great chances, and they didn't go in. I think you probably thought, okay, we got to get a goal. If you start to think too much about just playing offense, then you kind of lose your edge instead of just playing the right way, then you usually get more chances, but because we missed a few of our early chances, we probably pushed a little too hard that way, and then didn't take care of the little details that make you feel more successful."
The Eagles were able to settle into the game and even up the score to end the period. Now utilizing the home ice to their advantage BC got stronger as the game went along, outshooting LIU 23-6 in the middle period and 23-9 in the final period.
"I thought each period we got a little bit better," Brown said. "Our second was a little better than our first and our third was a little bit better than our second. We wanted to capitalize on more of the chances we create, but other than that is a huge non-conference win that we were able to grind out. so I think that's the biggest one."
One of the freshmen in particular, had a stellar debut last weekend in goaltender Jacob Fowler. Continuously slamming the door shut on the defending National Champions, Fowler looked anything but someone who was making their college debut. After a slow start on home ice, Brown was asked how Fowler responded to early adversity.
"I'm sure he was feeling that (the large crowd)," he said. "To give up two early, shows his mental fortitude, that he really shut the door after that. It's not easy for any goalie to give up two early, but especially for a freshman in his first home game I am sure he was so excited and wanted to do so well so the fact that he shut them down for the last 50 minutes was a huge testament to his mental strength and the guys in front of him as well."
The Eagles look ahead to RPI and Denver this weekend as they continue their six-game homestand -- and it'll be their first doubleheader of the weekend.
USCHO rankings
The Eagles moved up one spot, from 4 to 3 in the rankings after this weekend -- they also received two first-place votes. But, ahead of them is Denver and Minnesota; though BU was the team that fell after losing to UNH, the first Hockey East game of the season.
BC-Denver is going to be one to watch.
Women's team sweeps UConn
Following a rough 0-4 start to the season, BC women's hockey got back on track this weekend -- sweeping 15th-ranked UConn to grab their first and second wins of the season.
BC went down 2-0 in the first period but responded with three consecutive goals. The Huskies would tie it, however, at 3-3; but Abby Newhook with one minute to go in overtime won the draw and took it coast-to-coast before sniping one top-shelf for BC's first win of the season.
"Newy going in on that 2-on-1 in overtime with (freshman Julia Pellerin), they're both very threatening," head coach Katie Crowley said after the win Friday. "The goalie didn't know whether she was gonna pass or shoot, and Newy found a way to put it in."
The Eagles then grabbed the 2-1 win over the Huskies the following day away from home, as Pellerin and Julia Pyne both scored to move the Eagles to 2-0 in Hockey East play to begin the season.
Brett Rider, Publisher, to Eagles Daily and BC Class of 2020. He may be reached at eaglesdailybc@gmail.com & @brettrid3r