NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. - The second-ranked Boston College men's hockey team scored three goals in the second period en route to a 4-1 victory over Merrimack on Saturday evening to split the weekend series. Ryan Leonard, Jake Sondreal, Brady Berard, and Teddy Stiga found the back of the net for the Eagles.
BC improves to 13-4-1 overall and 7-3-1 in Hockey East, while Merrimack falls to 8-11-1 overall and 4-6-1 in league play.
After a scoreless first period, Leonard opened the scoring shortly into the middle frame with a power-play goal. Shortly after the Eagles went on the 5v4 advantage, Andre Gasseau and Michael Hagens connected with Leonard for the one-timer from the left face-off circle to put BC ahead 1-0.
Minutes later, Jacob Fowler came up with a huge glove save to keep the Eagles in front.
Later in the second period, Sondreal doubled the BC lead, slotting home a shot from the right face-off circle after being set up by Will Vote and Drew Fortescue. Less than 90 seconds later, Berard scored the Eagles' third goal of the period after scoring on a wrist shot that went inside the left post.
The Warriors got on the board midway through the third period with a power-play goal of their own after BC was handed a five-minute major.
The Eagles added one more late in the third period as Stiga put home an empty net goal.
Fowler finished the game with 22 saves while Merrimack's Max Lundgren made 37 stops.
SCORING
2nd 5:33 BC Ryan Leonard (Michael Hagens, Andre Gasseau) - PP
2nd 16:16 BC Jake Sondreal (Will Vote, Drew Fortescue)
2nd 18:29 BC Brady Berard (Will Skahan)
3rd 8:29 MC Nick Pierre (Seamus Powell, Ty Daneault) - PP
3rd 17:48 BC Teddy Stiga (Gabe Perreault, Gasseau)
GAME NOTES
- Boston College is now 4-0-0 in games following a loss
- Jake Sondreal scored his first collegiate goal
- Brady Berard scored for the second-straight game
- Ryan Leonard scored his 13th goal of the season
- Leonard's goal was Boston College's eighth power-play goal of the season
- Andre Gasseau posted his first two-assist performance of the year
- Michael Hagens recorded his fourth assist of the campaign
- Will Vote registered his first assist of the season
UP NEXT
BC has a quick turnaround as Harvard comes to Kelley Rink on Tuesday for a non-conference tilt. The Eagles then take on Providence in a home-and-home series on Jan. 17-18, with Friday's game at Kelley Rink before making the trip to Schneider Arena on Saturday.
