STORRS, Conn. - In front of a a sold out Toscano Family Ice Forum, the UConn men's hockey upset the no.2 Boston College Eagles by a final of 5-4. The Huskies scored three unanswered goals to take the lead over the Eagles and never looked back.
UConn found themselves in a hole early in the first period as a shot by Boston College's Aidan Hreschuk found its way past junior goaltender Tyler Muszelik for the first goal of the game to give the Eagles the lead. Shortly after the goal, after a save by Jacob Fowler, a scrum ensued resulting in a 5-minute major penalty and game misconduct for graduate student Hugh Larkin and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Lukas Gustaffson of Boston College. The Huskies penalty kill shined as they were able to kill off the penalties without allowing a goal. Despite registering 23 total shots on goal, UConn was unable to find the equalizing goal in the first period as they entered the period break trailing by 1.
The Huskies jumped the Eagles in the second period, as graduate student Hudson Schandor took the pass from Tristan Fraser and found the equalizing goal just 18 seconds into the start of the period. The UConn offense didn't stop there as freshman Kaden Shahan rocketed a shot past Fowler to give UConn the 2-1 lead, and then a little over one minute later, graduate student Nick Carabin found Tristan Fraser crashing the net for the Huskies third goal of the night. Following the Fraser goal, Boston College netminder Jacob Fowler punched Fraser in the head resulting in a five-minute major and a game misconduct. The Huskies were unable to extend their lead following the power play but entered the break leading by two.
Freshman Thomas Heaney came in relief for junior Tyler Muszelik who was forced out following the conclusion of the second period with an injury. Boston College was able to cut into the Huskies lead 31 seconds into the third period as Ryan Leonard fired the puck past Heaney for the goal. UConn responded as the Huskies won the faceoff in the offensive zone and junior Tom Messineo collected the puck at the blue line and wristed a shot past Jan Korec for the goal giving UConn the two-goal lead.
With time running down in the third period, Boston College pulled their netminder in favor of an extra attacker, and it paid off as the Eagles were once again able to cut the UConn lead to one. On the ensuing faceoff, Boston College once again pulled their goaltender and Ryan Tattle was able to sink the empty net goal. Boston College responded with another goal, but it was too little too late as the Huskies were able to upset no.2 Boston College.
Up Next:
UConn will have the weekend off and begin to turn their attention to a two-game road trip to take on another ranked opponent in UMass Lowell. The Huskies will open the two-game series Friday Nov.22 at the Tsongas center. Both games can be streamed live on ESPN+.
