Boston College leaned on its special teams and got a big night from Louka Cloutier to take down UMass 3-1 on Friday evening at the Mullins Center.
The Eagles struck twice on the power play and once while shorthanded, with Dean Letourneau, Ryan Conmy and Landan Resendes all finding the net. Cloutier matched his career high with 38 saves as BC improved to 3-5-2 overall and 2-2-1 in Hockey East. UMass fell to 5-6-1 overall and 2-2-0 in league play.
BC’s first goal came with almost no time left in the opening period. With 1.5 seconds remaining and a power play about to begin, the Eagles pulled Cloutier for an extra attacker and made it count. Teddy Mutryn won the faceoff, and Letourneau buried a one-timer from the circle into the top corner before the horn to put BC ahead 1-0.
The second period turned into a special-teams burst for the Eagles. At 9:30, Luka Radivojevic set up Conmy near the net, and Conmy pulled the puck across before finishing to make it 2-0. Less than two minutes later, Teddy Stiga and Resendes connected on a give-and-go, with Stiga finding Resendes at the back post for an easy tap-in and a 3-0 lead.
UMass answered late in the second when Jack Musa scored on the power play at 18:04 to trim the deficit to 3-1.
From there, BC’s defense shut the door in the third period, and Cloutier handled 16 saves in the final frame to help the Eagles finish off the win.
The teams meet again Saturday night at Kelley Rink, with puck drop set for 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
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Audrey Ross gave Boston College a steady offensive lift, finishing with 16 kills as the Eagles kept the pressure on into the final set. Instead, Florida State held on late and left Boston College with a tough result to absorb, especially in a league where close matches can swing the standings quickly. The Eagles now head home to face Miami, with another chance to turn that competitiveness into something more tangible. [Read more 🡒]