LOWELL, Mass. - Senior F Steven Whitney scored the lone goal and senior G Parker Milner made it stand as No. 1 Boston College defeated No. 10/11 UMass Lowell, 1-0, in front of 6,003 Friday night in a Hockey East clash at the Tsongas Center.
With the loss, UMass Lowell slipped to 1-2-1 overall and 0-1-1 in Hockey East entering Sunday's rematch with the Eagles (4:00, Conte Forum).
The win was the third straight for the Eagles, who improved to 3-1-0 overall and 3-1-0 in Hockey East. Milner, who earned first star honors, recorded his second straight shutout as he turned away 38 shots from UMass Lowell. The River Hawks outshot the Eagles, 38-20.
Boston College also did well to kill off four UMass Lowell power plays. UMass Lowell stayed away from the penalty box all night for the fourth time in its Division I history. The last time was against Providence Jan. 12, 2008 in a 3-2 overtime win at home.
Whitney scored the winner 3 minutes, 17 seconds into the third period when senior F Pat Mullane drove up center ice and flicked to sophomore Johnny Gaudreau on the left side. Gaudreau centered to Whitney, who one-timed glove side past junior G Doug Carr (Hanover, Mass.).
UMass Lowell had several attempts to level, and nearly did so in the final seconds when junior F Josh Holmstrom (Colorado Spring, Colo.) attempted a wrist shot, the rebound of which just eluded the stick of junior F Joe Pendenza (Wilmington, Mass.) and trickled through the left side of the crease before it was cleared.
The loss overshadowed a stellar effort by Carr, who stopped 19 shots, including 11 in the second period.