After a ferocious comeback in the third period, the Boston University men’s hockey team lost 4-3 in overtime to Michigan State on Saturday night at Agganis Arena.
Saturday’s first period was very similar to Friday’s performance. The Terriers were beaten to pucks and lost seemingly every board battle.
In the offensive zone, the BU centers were unable to win a face-off, saving the Spartans without a fight. MSU broke out more effectively than the Terriers and outscored BU in transition, leading to the first Spartans goal.
Freshman forward Ryker Lee buried his first collegiate goal at 8:46 of the first period. While charging into the offensive zone, Lee received a pass from fellow freshman forward Anthony Pomani. Lee made a nifty play around freshman defenseman Carter Amico and beat sophomore goaltender Mikahil Yegorov.
The second period was a step up from the first for the Terriers as they defeated MSU 12-7. BU started getting pucks deep in the offensive zone and firing pucks at junior netminder Trey Augustine.
When the Terriers were placed in favorable positions with clear shooting lanes, they were unable to corral the puck several times, saving the Spartans. BU’s power play continued its struggles this weekend, finishing 0-4 on Saturday.
But with just 1:01 left in the second period, freshman forward Porter Martone joined in the fun and scored his first NCAA goal. He buried a loose puck past Yegorov.
The Terriers started the third period hot and ultimately took the game to MSU.
Junior captain Gavin McCarthy got BU on the board at 2:14 of the final frame. From behind the goal line, freshman forward Ben Merrill made a pass to McCarthy in the right circle, who did the rest.
Forty seconds later, when it looked like the Terriers had the momentum, the Spartans silenced the Agganis crowd and pushed their lead to 3-1.
A lazy breakaway pass from freshman forward Jack Murtagh in the BU defensive zone was intercepted by Martone, who set up junior forward Tommi Männistö to beat Yegorov.
On the penalty kill, sophomore forward Kamil Bednarik beat Augustine’s high blocker side to cut the MSU lead to 3-2 at the 13:09 mark.
With the faithful Terriers behind them, BU, energetic and hungry, tied the game at 15:03. Freshman forward Conrad Fondrk tipped home a shot from sophomore blueliner Sascha Boumedienne for his first goal as a Terrier.
Senior defenseman Matt Basgall won the game for the Spartans in overtime at 3:50.
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