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Published March 25, 2012, 09:42 PM

College men's hockey: UMD's season ends with loss to Boston College

Top-ranked Boston College flexed its muscles with a pair of quick goals early in the second period on the way to eliminating defending champion UMD 4-0 in Sunday's NCAA Northeast Regional men’s hockey title game.

By: Kevin Pates, Duluth News Tribune

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    Boston College's Chris Kreider (left) is upended along the boards by Minnesota Duluth's Wade Bergman during the second period of Sunday's NCAA Northeast Regional final in Worcester, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
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WORCESTER, Mass. — As good as Minnesota Duluth has been the past two years, in winning the 2011 Division I title and amassing a 17-game unbeaten streak, the Bulldogs faced the hottest team in Division I on Sunday night in the NCAA Northeast Regional men’s hockey title game at DCU Center.

Hockey East’s Boston College has been the most successful Division I program the past decade, particularly in NCAA tournament play, going 19-6 since 2003, winning titles in 2008 and 2010, and finishing second in 2006 and 2007.

And the Eagles flexed their muscles with a pair of quick goals early in the second period on the way to eliminating the defending champion Bulldogs 4-0 to earn a trip to the Frozen Four on April 5 in Tampa, Fla. Boston College will face Minnesota in the semifinals.

No. 7 UMD is growing its own resume with four NCAA appearances the past nine years with an 8-3 record and a title in 2011, but the Bulldogs had no answer for top-ranked Boston College (31-10-1) and junior goalie Parker Milner, who allowed no goals in the tournament and was named Northeast Regional MVP.

Expectations were for a classically-good skating game and it was all of that in a scoreless first period. The Bulldogs, however, also had to face three Boston College power plays. Goalie Kenny Reiter’s best save came on oa rush by BC center Bill Arnold with 5:20 left.

A span of 86 seconds early in the second period left UMD it couldn’t climb out of. Winger Steven Whitney, from behind the net, passed to center Pat Mullane at 4:01 for a goal from the crease. And a UMD turnover behind its goal allowed center Bill Arnold to convert also at the crease at 5:27.

The Eagles gave UMD very few looks at the net and was tough on defense by controlling the puck. BC scored twice more in the third period

UMD was stopped on all five power plays, including a 5-on-3, in being shut out for just the second time this season.

Minnesota Duluth................ 0-0-0—0

Boston College.................... 0-2-2—4

First period — No scoring. Penalties —Tim Smith, UMD (hooking), 8:39; Johnny Gaudreau, Boston College (too many men on ice), 9:41; Travis Oleksuk, UMD (hitting from behind), 15:30; Brady lamb, UMD (boarding), 18:24.

Second period — 1. Boston College, Pat Mullane 10 (Paul Carey, Gaudreau), 4:01; 2. Boston College, Bill Arnold 16 (Steven Whitney), 5:27. Penalties —Isaac MacLeod, Boston College (high sticking), 17:10.

Third period — 3. Boston College, Patrick Wey 2, 1:13; 4. Boston College, Gaudreau 20 (Wey, MacLeod), 11:50 (pp). Penalties — Patch Alber, Boston College (tripping), 2:23; Wey, Boston College (cross-checking), 3:42; Wey, Boston College (hooking), 5:52; J.T. Brown, UMD (roughing), 10:28; Chris Kreider, Boston College (tripping).

Shots on goal — UMD 7-8-18—33, Boston College 8-8-8—24. Goalies — Kenny Reiter (23-9-6), UMD (24 shots-20 saves); Parker Milner (26-5), Boston College (33 shots-33 saves). Power plays — UMD 0-of-6, Boston College 1-of-5. Referees — Steve McInchak, Brian Aaron. Linesmen —T.J. Likens, Tony Molina.

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