AMHERST, Mass. - Sophomore Cutter Gauthier (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and freshman Ryan Leonard (Amherst, Mass.) each scored a pair of goals in a 5-1 win for No. 1 Boston College men's hockey over No. 11/10 Massachusetts at the Mullins Center on Friday night.
BC dominated much of the first, but did not break through until late in the frame when Gauthier netted his 24th goal of the season. Classmate Andre Gasseau (Garden Grove, Calif.) carried the puck over the blue line and fed the trailing Gauthier, who's pass to the slot found its way into the goal.
After UMass tied the game in the second, Gauthier put the Eagles back in front with his second of the night. Minuteman goaltender Michael Hrabal initially turned away a tip in the slot by freshman Gabe Perreault (Hinsdale, Ill.) and the puck skipped out to Gauthier, during a BC change. He sent the puck toward the net and again beat the goalie on a deflection. Leonard doubled the BC lead later in the period on a power play. Senior defender Eamon Powell (Marcellus, N.Y.) left the puck for Leonard, who took to the offensive zone with a head of steam and fired home his shot.
In the third, Leonard scored his second of the night and Gasseau added an empty-netter in the final minute.
Freshman goalie Jacob Fowler (Melbourne, Fla.) posted 25 saves in the win, while Hrabal made just 20.
SCORING
1st 14:58 BC Cutter Gauthier (Oskar Jellvik, Andre Gasseau)
2nd 6:32 UM Lucas Mercuri (Cole O'Hara)
2nd 8:46 BC Gauthier
2nd 17:21 BC Ryan Leonard (Eamon Powell) - PP
3rd 16:34 BC Leonard (Smith, Perreault)
3rd 19:36 BC Gasseau (Gauthier)
GAME NOTES
- BC is 10-4-1 against ranked opponents this season.
- Gauthier recorded his seventh multi-goal game of the season and third in the last five contests.
- Leonard extended his season-best point streak to 12 games. He has scored in three consecutive games.
- Leonard posted his third multi-goal game of the season.
- Powell extended his point streak and assist streak to seven games. He has 10 points over that stretch.
UP NEXT
Boston College and UMass wrap up the weekend series Sunday at 1 p.m. in Chestnut Hill.
