MASSACHUSETTS NOTCHES 3-2 WIN AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Sophomore defenseman Joel Hanley and sophomore forward Michael Pereira each post goal and assist for Minutemen

Sophomore defenseman Joel Hanley had a goal and an assist for the Minutemen

BOSTON, Mass. - Sophomore defenseman Joel Hanley and sophomore forward Michael Pereira each had a goal and an assist to help Massachusetts earn a 3-2 win against Boston University on Friday night at Agganis Arena.

Junior Alex Chiasson recorded a goal and an assist for the Terriers, who move to 17-9-1 overall and 13-7-1 in Hockey East play.

The Minutemen (10-12-5, 6-10-4 HEA) never trailed in the contest and used a pair of power-play goals and a late empty-netter to secure their first road win of the season. It marked the first time ever that UMass defeated a top-ranked team on the road.

BU spent the late stages of the second period and nearly the entire third period trying to muster an equalizer after sophomore Joel Hanley broke a 1-1 tie to give the visitors a 2-1 lead at 12:47 of the middle stanza.

The Terriers were forced to pull senior goaltender Kieran Millan late in regulation in favor of an extra attacker and the Minutemen managed to score on the empty net on a shot by sophomore Michael Pereira to take a 3-1 lead.

Following a UMass penalty in the final minute, BU brought the extra attacker back on to create a 6-4 advantage and got a goal from Chiasson with 4.5 ticks left, but it was too little, too late.

Sophomore Brandon Gracel opened the scoring at 7:14 of the first with a power-play tally for the Minutemen.

Senior captain Chris Connolly tied the game just over two minutes later when he poked in the puck while it was sitting in the crease following an attempt at the left post by sophomore Matt Nieto, who assisted on both of BU's goals.

UMass held a 37-35 shot advantage and got a 33-save performance from freshman Kevin Boyle. Millan made 34 stops for the Terriers.

The Minutemen will host Providence on Saturday (Feb. 11) at 7 p.m. BU will return to action on Monday (Feb. 13) when it faces No. 5/4 Boston College at TD Garden in the championship game of the 60th Beanpot. The game, which will be broadcast live by NESN, will start at 7:30 p.m.