Boston College's Late Push Falls Short Against Providence in Tight 4-3 Loss
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Boston College came into Saturday night’s matchup against Providence looking to build momentum in Hockey East play, but a slow start and early defensive lapses proved too much to overcome. Despite a spirited third-period rally, the No.
12/13 Eagles dropped a tightly contested 4-3 decision to the No. 14/14 Friars at Schneider Arena.
The loss drops BC to 11-8-1 overall and 7-5-0 in conference play, while Providence improves to 13-7-2 and 8-3-1 in the league.
Let’s break this one down.
Early Hole Proves Costly
Providence wasted no time setting the tone. Less than four minutes into the first period, John Mustard pounced on a rebound after Louka Cloutier made multiple saves in close, putting the Friars up 1-0.
BC responded quickly with a power play goal - a slick redirection by Andre Gasseau off a James Hagens shot from the blue line. Luka Radivojevic picked up the secondary assist, and just like that, the Eagles were back in it.
But Providence answered with a power play goal of their own. Julius Sumpf found Tanner Adams alone in front of the net for an easy tap-in, and the Friars weren’t done yet. Jonathan Fauchon ripped one top shelf late in the first to make it 3-1, and Logan Sawyer stretched the lead to three midway through the second on a 3-on-1 break.
At that point, it looked like the game might get away from BC.
Special Teams Spark the Comeback
If there’s a silver lining for the Eagles, it’s the power play - and it delivered in a big way. Down 4-1 and skating with a 5-on-3 advantage late in the second, BC capitalized.
Luka Radivojevic set up Ryan Conmy for a one-timer from the right circle, and the freshman didn’t miss. That goal gave the Eagles a jolt heading into the third.
Late in the final frame, with another five-minute power play on the board, BC struck again. Dean Letourneau won the offensive zone faceoff cleanly to Hagens, who fired a shot on net. Providence goalie Jack Parsons made the initial stop, but the rebound fell right to Radivojevic, who buried it for his first collegiate goal - and third point of the night.
Suddenly, it was a one-goal game with just under four minutes to play.
Final Push Comes Up Short
With the clock winding down, BC pulled Cloutier for the extra attacker. The Eagles pushed, looking for the equalizer, but Providence’s defense tightened up. They clogged shooting lanes, cleared rebounds, and limited BC’s chances in the final stretch to hold on for the win.
Despite the loss, there were plenty of individual performances worth highlighting.
Notable Performances
- Luka Radivojevic had a breakout night, scoring his first collegiate goal and adding two assists for a career-high three-point game. The freshman looked confident and poised in key moments.
- James Hagens continues to be a catalyst for the Eagles’ offense.
He picked up three assists, bringing his season total to 11, and was involved in all three BC goals.
- Ryan Conmy netted his eighth goal of the season - and his fourth on the power play - showing once again why he's become a go-to option with the man advantage.
- Andre Gasseau notched his second goal of the year with a nice tip-in on the power play.
- Louka Cloutier made 34 saves, many of them high-quality chances, and kept BC in the game during stretches where Providence threatened to pull away.
BC’s three power play goals marked their highest total in a game since March 2024, when they scored four against Boston University. That’s a promising sign heading into the second half of the season, especially considering the team’s struggles at times with special teams execution.
Looking Ahead
Boston College won’t have much time to dwell on this one. They’ll face New Hampshire next weekend in a home-and-home series, starting Friday at Kelley Rink and wrapping up Saturday at the Whittemore Center. Both games are set for 7:00 p.m. and will be available on ESPN+ and WEEI 850 AM.
If the Eagles can tighten up defensively early and keep the power play clicking, they’ll be in good shape. Saturday's game showed they can hang with top-tier competition - now it’s about putting together a full 60 minutes.