Defending Champs Drop Opener

by Tristan Hobbes

Will Ortiz had a two-point night, including the game winning goal in the third period, and Paul Dainton made 39 saves as the University of Massachusetts Minutemen (1-0-0 HE, 2-0-0) upset the #2 ranked Boston University Terriers (0-1-0 HE, 0-1-0) 3-2 Friday night in front of 8,123 at the Mullins Center in Amherst.

It was the Hockey East opener for both teams and is the second straight year that UMass has upended the Terriers at the Mullins Center early in the year. The loss also snapped BU’s program record 19-game unbeaten streak on the road.

“I thought it was a very entertaining game,” said UMass head coach Don ‘Toot’ Cahoon after the game. “I think everyone walked away thinking they just saw two teams go to battle. The game was all about two points.”

UMass saw an early two goal lead disappear before Ortiz knocked home a Danny Hobbs pass just two minutes into the third period. Ortiz crashed the back door and was able to somehow get a stick on the puck with senior defender Eric Gryba (’10) right in front of him.

“It was a great play from Danny Hobbs,” said Ortiz of his game-winning goal. “That’s what we work on in practice; taking it wide and driving to the net.”

The duo of Ortiz (1g, 1a) and center Rocco Carza (1g, 2a) combined for five points on the night. Carza gave the Minutemen the lead as he banged home a centering pass from Ortiz. BU’s sophomore goalie Kieran Millan (’12) was caught out of the net and Ortiz slid the puck in front to Carza who banged it home. Matt Irwin made it 2-0 just over three minutes later with a slap-shot from the point.

BU battled back to tie the game thanks to the efforts of freshman forward Alex Chiasson (’13). Chiasson (’13) cut the lead in half with a power play goal at the 7:43 mark of the first. The rookie picked up a rebound and calmly outlasted Dainton before sliding the puck into the back of the net for the first goal of his career. Chiasson struck again in the second as he walked out from behind the net and tucked the puck nicely inside the far post.

“He played like a force out there,” head coach Jack Parker said of his rookie’s opening performance.

The young forward was a bright spot for a Terriers team that struggled overall. The passing was not crisp and the chemistry was not there.

“Our top two lines were trying to do too much,” Parker said. “Having as many of our real important guys not play up to their capabilities, I’m surprised at the score.”

It was Millan (’12) and Dainton who kept their teams close all night. Millan faced numerous odd-man rushes and four second period breakaways. Mid-way through the second Chase Langeraap came in all alone and beat Millan but his shot hit the post. In the final minute of the second, Millan got caught out of the net again on a penalty kill, but this time his four defenders formed a wall in front of the net and blocked three Minutemen shots.

Dainton was just as good in running his record to 2-0 on the season. The junior stopped 39 shots but it was the two that he didn’t stop that were the closest. Freshmen Sean Escobedo’s ('13) shot beat Dainton over the shoulder but hit the underside of the crossbar and rolled along the goal line before it was cleared away. Video replayed confirmed that the puck did not cross the line. Dainton’s teammates bailed him out again late in the third. Junior forward Nick Bonino’s (’11) wrister went off the glove hand of Dainton and behind him but James Marcou dove full out to knock the puck away and preserve the win.

The Terriers will hit the ice again on Tuesday night when they host 7th ranked Notre Dame.

NOTES
- Sophomore Andrew Glass (’12) was not in the lineup for violating team rules.
- Freshmen Wade Megan (’13) picked up his first career point and assist on Chiasson’s first goal.
- BU outshot UMass 16-4 in the final period