AMHERST, Mass. - Cory Quirk tallied a pair of goals and added an assist as the UMass hockey team exploded for a 5-1 win over No. 16 Boston University on Saturday night at the Mullins Center. It was the first time in program history that the Minutemen won a season series against the Terriers. After the game was tied 1-1 after the first period, UMass tallied a pair of goals in both the second and third periods to cruise to the win.
The win, coupled with Maine's win at Vermont and Merrimack's tie at New Hampshire, keep the Minutemen in the eighth and final play-off spot in the Hockey East standings. UMass will face Merrimack in a home-and-home series next weekend with Friday's game in the Mullins Center being Senior Day.
UMass improves to 12-14-6 overall and 7-13-5 in Hockey East play, while Boston University falls to 15-15-4 overall and 13-9-3 in league action. The Mass Attack snapped the Terrier's seven-game win streak which was the longest in the nation heading into the game. It was the second time this season UMass had snapped a win streak that lead the nation. The other busted streak was Notre Dame's nine-game win streak back on Dec. 29.
Quirk put the Minutemen on the board first with power play goal just 3:21 into the first period. Brandon Yip scored for the Terriers with 15 seconds remaining in the period to tie the game at 1-1.
Midway through the second period, Scott Crowder netted his second goal of the year on a one-on-one breakaway after Justin Braun forced a turnover in the BU zone. With Crowder having just jumped over the boards, Braun sent the pass ahead where Crowder collected it and drove it home for the 2-1 lead. Quirk scored his team-leading 10th goal of the year with just under three minutes remaining in the period after Alex Berry forced a turnover and chipped it ahead to set up Quirk.
Berry and Quirk teamed up 3:42 into the third period, but this time, it was Quirk who set-up a short-handed goal for Berry. It was Berry's second short-handed goal of the year and gave the Minutemen a 4-1 lead.
Chris Davis iced the game with an empty net goal with 2:46 remaining in the game. The Terriers pulled goal Brett Bennett for the final four minutes of the game and the Minutemen defense was up to the task despite being down a man. Matt Burto collected a loose puck, carried it down the boards and then sent it ahead for Davis who skated the puck into the net.
Paul Dainton was sharp in net making 27 saves on the night, while Bennett stopped 10 shots for the Terriers.
Boston University outshot UMass 28-to-15 including an 11-to-2 advantage in the third period.
The game was physical with 15 penalties for a total of 57 minutes called on each team.