AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass hockey team tallied its fourth win of the season over a nationally-ranked opponent, handing #11/9 Boston University a 5-1 loss at the Mullins Center on Friday evening in front of 7,267 fans, the 15th-largest home crowd in program history. With the win, the Minutemen improve to 10-12-2 overall, 7-9-1 in Hockey East, while the Terriers fall to 13-10-1, 10-7-1 in conference action.
Junior Michael Pereira tied a career high with a four-point night, contributing two goals and two assists, his first multi-goal game of the season. Linemates Branden Gracel and Conor Sheary had multi-point nights, as well, each chipping in with a goal and an assist. UMass' top line of Pereira-Gracel-Sheary totaled eight of the Minutemen's 14 points on the evening and now has 31 in nine games when paired together.
Junior Colin Shea registered a pair of assists for his second career multi-point game as he previously notched two helpers in UMass' win at #2 Boston College two weeks ago.
After Minuteman netminder Kevin Boyle came up with a huge stop on a Evan Rodrigues breakaway with 4:23 left in the first period to keep things scoreless, Gracel put UMass out in front 1-0, 17:21 into the opening frame. On a 3-on-2 rush, Allen sent the puck down the boards to Pereira, who found Gracel streaking down the opposite side for his team-leading 12th goal of the season.
Another late goal in the second period increased UMass' lead to 2-0. Senior Kevin Czepiel redirected a shot from the point by sophomore Mike Busillo for his first tally of the year at the 18:30 mark. Freshman K.J. Tiefenwerth earned an assist on the play, as well. The Minutemen limited the Terriers to just one shot on net in the second period while putting 11 of their own on target.
The Minutemen then erupted for three in the third period to break the game open. Sheary put one past Sean Maguire from the top of the slot off a feed from Pereira and Gracel at 5:16.
Sheary then set up the next tally, causing a turnover along the boards in the offensive zone and sending the puck to Shea at the point. Pereira buried the rebound off Shea's shot at the 9:20 mark to expand the margin to 4-0.
Less than two minutes later, Pereira notched his second of the evening, putting home the team's fifth tally from Shea for his first career shorthanded goal 11:03 into the final stanza.
The Terriers spoiled the shutout bid with Ben Rosen's shorthander at 15:38 that capped off the scoring.
UMass finished with a 28-20 shot advantage, while the teams were even on faceoffs, winning 26 apiece on the night. Boyle totaled 19 saves for the Minutemen in his eighth victory of the year (8-7-2), while Maguire turned aside 23 for Boston University.
UMass will be back in action with its second straight at home next Friday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. against Northeastern.