CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Led by six goals and six assists from its sophomore class, top-ranked Boston College cruised to a 7-1 Hockey East victory over UMass Lowell on Friday night at Kelley Rink to open a home-and-home series.
BC pushed its record to 12-3-1, improving to 7-1-1 in its last nine games, while the River Hawks dropped to 4-6-0.
Boston College set a season-high with three power play goals on five chances. Friday was the Eagles' highest offensive output against Lowell since a 6-3 victory at Conte Forum on Oct. 28, 2012 and their highest margin of victory in the series since a 6-0 home shutout on Feb. 23, 2006.
Sophomore linemates Matt Boldy, Alex Newhook and Mike Hardman combined for 11 points on the night, led by Boldy with a goal and four assists for a career-high five-point performance. Newhook netted his first two goals of the season, both on the power play, and was matched by Hardman (2-1-3) with three points. Classmate Drew Helleson also scored for the second time in three games.
Junior Casey Carreau continued his career year with his fourth goal and led the team with five shots on goal. Classmate Jack McBain set a new career-high with an assist in five straight games and tied his career-best point streak at five games. Marc McLaughlin picked up an assist for his 17th point.
Sophomore Spencer Knight improved to 11-1-1 on the season between the pipes, stopping 29 of the 30 shots he faced.
BC was 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and out-shot Lowell 40-30.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st 3:33, BC (1-0) | McBain's weak-angle attempt was kicked out to the right goal line extended. Colby Ambrosio quickly slipped a pass to Helleson at the top of the right circle and the sophomore ripped a shot high blocker side to beat Henry Welsch.
1st 4:20, UML (1-1) | Early in a Boston College power play, Zach Kaiser slipped a backhand pass from below the goal line to an open Lucas Condotta in the low slot and the junior finished first-time to the glove side.
2nd 12:46, BC (2-1) | Following a clean faceoff win from McLaughlin, Boldy's point shot was collected behind the net by Hardman, who quickly beat Welsch to the left post on a wraparound.
2nd 0:26, BC (3-1) | Knight fired the puck down the right wing for Hardman at the UMass Lowell line. Hardman slipped a pass ahead for Boldy, who quickly looked to his left and set up Newhook for a one-timer, blocker side.
2nd 12:03, BC (4-1) | McLaughlin laid the body in the slot which turned the puck over to Carreau, who tossed a shot on target to beat Welsch through a screen provided by classmate Patrick Giles.
2nd 14:41, BC (5-1) | Kuntar chipped the puck off the right wing boards for a self-pass before centering to Boldy, who snapped a heavy shot blocker side on a quick release from the high slot.
3rd 1:17, BC (6-1) | Jack St. Ivany fed a pass to Newhook with space at the top of the left wing circle and the forward skated toward the faceoff dot before firing a shot high glove side through a screen.
3rd 12:28, BC (7-1) | Newhook took a cross-ice pass from Boldy off his skate for a 2-on-1 and fluttered a pass to the weak side for Hardman to finish past a sprawling Logan Neaton.
UP NEXT
The schools close the weekend series on Saturday (Feb. 13) at the Tsongas Center in Lowell at 6 p.m. on SportsLive and WEEI 850 AM.
