BOSTON — Playing at home against a Vermont team that had only one win in its last eight games, perhaps Boston University thought it would be an easy win tonight.
Think again.
After averaging just 1.86 goals per game while amassing a 3-9-2 record so far this season, Vermont outworked and outplayed BU in front of 4,002 fans at Agganis Arena tonight.
Former Terrier Alexx Privitera returned to haunt his former teammates with two assists as the Catamounts came away with a 4-2 win. Freshman Liam Coughlin had a beautiful assist on the game-winner and added a buzzer-beating empty-net goal for the visitors.
“I’m really proud of our team,” Vermont coach Kevin Sneddon said. “We’ve obviously been through some tough weekends as of late – bounces not going our way, really a lot of tests of our team. I think our message as coaches has been, ‘Just stick together and good things will happen.’
“We’ve seen it. Our guys have weathered the storm and I think they played extremely well tonight.”
On the opposing bench, BU coach David Quinn was exasperated.
It’s been hard to know what kind of BU team will show up on a given night or if the Terriers will salvage a win or a tie after two anemic periods, but no late heroics bailed them out tonight.
“Just really disappointed with the performance tonight,” Quinn said. “Complete lack of emotion and commitment to physical play. You’ve got no chance when you don’t play with passion and emotion and enthusiasm and for some reason, we didn’t have any of that tonight.
“The better team won. They skated fast, they hit hard, and they were smarter. That’s what it comes down to. We’re not only young; we’re immature. We’ve said that a few times this year.”
Everything looked to be in good order for the Terriers in the first several minutes. After several good chances, BU scored first for just the sixth time in 15 games this season.
Brandon Fortunato carried the puck from the right point down to the goal line before throwing the puck back to Tommy Kelley, who was covering the point for Fortunato. Kelley’s big slap shot beat Mike Santaguida high. It was Kelley’s first goal in just under two years, and it also meant that nine different skaters had scored the Terriers’ last nine goals.
But a pair of Terrier penalties changed everything. BU survived a brief five-on-three advantage but gave up a goal before the second power play expired. Privatera teed up Anthony Petruzzelli in the right-wing circle for a shot that went through traffic as well as BU senior goalie Sean Maguire at 13:58.
Less than two minutes later, UVM took the lead off a rare turnover by defenseman Doyle Somerby. Kevin Irwin intercepted Somerby’s pass and slipped the puck to Jarrid Privitera – Alexx’s younger brother – who went in and beat Maguire.
It stayed 2-1 for quite a while – through an uneventful second period and more than seven minutes into the third. At 7:12, BU managed to tie it up when freshman Jordan Greenway got the puck behind the net and found Matt Lane in the slot. The senior had his back to the net, but wheeled and managed to get the shot through everyone to make it 2-2.
Terrier fans expecting yet another third-period rally for a win or tie were in for a rude awakening.
At 10:55, freshman Liam Coughlin got the puck close to the post on Maguire’s stick side. Somehow, he made a blind, backhanded pass that went right to Brendan Bradley, who got the No. 1 star of the game for hitting a mostly empty net from about eight feet out.
After the game, it was all about Coughlin’s amazing pass.
“I don’t know if he has eyes in the back of his head or just sensed his presence,” Sneddon said.
BU pulled Maguire with over two minutes left and mounted a bit of pressure, but finally Coughlin was rewarded with his first collegiate goal, an empty-netter that went in just before the buzzer sounded and the red light went on.
BU captain Matt Grzelcyk remained out of the lineup due to a knee injury but looks probable to play next weekend. Terrier sophomore Nikolas Olsson reinjured his shoulder and missed much of tonight’s game. Olsson will be replaced in tomorrow afternoon’s lineup, and Quinn sounded ready to sit out another player or two based on tonight’s performances.
