Junior forward Robert Mastrosimone scored two goals for the Terriers
Boston University Falls To Northern Michigan, 5-3

Box Score

MARQUETTE, Mich. - Junior Robert Mastrosimone tallied a career-high two goals and classmate Case McCarthy recorded a goal and an assist, but the Boston University men's ice hockey team dropped a 5-3 decision at Northern Michigan on Friday night at Berry Events Center.

BU nearly battled all the way back from an early 4-1 deficit to get the score to 4-3, but Northern Michigan deposited an empty-netter to seal the contest. Junior Wilmer Skoog assisted on both of Mastrosimone's goals while freshman Braden Doyle notched his first collegiate point with an assist. Sophomores Dylan Peterson and Nick Zabaneh also secured an assist.

Sophomore Vinny Duplessis was sharp for the Terriers in relief of Drew Commesso, securing 17 saves and allowing just one goal in 46:22 of work. He stopped all 14 shots he faced in the third period to keep the Terriers in the contest.


HOW IT HAPPENED

- Northern Michigan opened the game with three straight strikes, including a power-play marker, to grab a 3-0 lead just 12:20 into the proceedings.

- BU answered at 16:39 of the frame when Skoog and McCarthy combined to set up Mastrosimone for a power-play strike. Skoog had the puck behind the net, turned and zipped a pass to Mastrosimone at the right post.

- That goal gave BU some momentum, but the Wildcats capitalized on another power play with 1:24 to go in the period to take a 4-1 lead into the first intermission.

- The Terriers carried the play in the second period and were rewarded with a goal at the 12:50 mark. Doyle blocked a shot and then moved the puck up to Mastrosimone. He carried into the zone and dished it over to Skoog, who gave it right back to Mastrosimone on the left wing for the finish.

- BU nearly cut the deficit to 4-3 on the power play, as freshman Tyler Boucher came inches away from slotting the puck inside the left post after the Terriers sustained pressure in the offensive zone.

- Zabaneh circled the entire Wildcat zone before he found Armstrong in front of the net, but Rico DiMatteo (27 saves) turned aside the point-blank chance.

- McCarthy cut the lead to 4-3 with 6:49 to play. Playing 4-on-4, Zabaneh raced up the left wing and gained the zone with speed. He centered the puck for Peterson, who tapped it back to McCarthy in stride. The junior defender uncorked a shot past DiMatteo for his second goal of the season.

- Duplessis came up big shortly after McCarthy's goal with a sensational post-to-post stop as a Wildcat power play ended.

- BU nearly tied it with 1:37 to play when Mastrosimone found Peterson with a pass at the right post, but a Wildcat defender got there in time to break up the play.

- The Terriers called timeout after that whistle and pulled Duplessis in favor of an extra attacker, but the Wildcats were able to score an empty-netter to seal the 5-3 win.


GAME NOTES

- McCarthy has scored a goal in each of the last two games, as his first marker of the season came last weekend at UMass Lowell.

- Mastrosimone has tallied three points (2g, 1a) over his last two tilts.

- This was Duplessis' second appearance of the season; he also played against UConn on Oct. 9.

- Skoog now leads BU with nine points thanks to four goals and a team-best five assists.

- This was Skoog's first two-assist game since Feb. 6, 2021 against Boston College.

- Both teams were whistled for seven penalties on Friday.


UP NEXT

- BU and Northern Michigan will close out this weekend's series on Saturday night at 6:37 p.m.