MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Niagara University men’s hockey team (21-15-3) lost, 5-2, to No. 4 Boston College (28-8-4) Saturday in the 2004 NCAA Northeast Regional at Verizon Wireless Arena, in Manchester, N.H.
"I just told our guys that we played a pretty good game," Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder said. "I thought if we could get the game-tying goal, we would be in good shape. But it just didn’t happen."
Facing the No. 1 seed in the Northeast Region (No. 2 seed in the overall NCAA Tournament), the Purple Eagles took an early 1-0 lead on a goal by senior forward Joe Tallari (Thunder Bay, Ont.). With the puck passed down the right-wing side to a breaking Justin Cross (Camarillo, Calif.), Cross gathered the puck and crossed it to an open Tallari, who then backhanded the puck over the shoulder of Boston College goaltender Matti Kaltiainen.
Following the Tallari goal, Niagara held onto the lead until Eagles sophomore Patrick Eaves, on the power play, was able to hit a slapshot low past Purple Eagles sophomore goaltender Jeff VanNynatten (Stratford, Ont.) at the 14:23 mark of the first period.
Less than three-minutes following the Patrick Eaves goal, junior Ryan Shannon gathered a loose puck that skirted across the Niagara crease and put it over a sprawled VanNynatten to give Boston College a 2-1 lead heading into the second period.
A Peter Harrold goal, which proved to be the game-winning tally, at 13:06 of the second period gave the Eagles a commanding 3-1 lead.
Momentum seemed to swing in favor of Niagara after Tallari, on a one-on-one with Kaltianinen, was taken down from behind at 16:23 of the second period, causing a penalty shot opportunity for the Purple Eagles . However, on the penalty shot, Tallari was unable to capitalize, hitting the left pad of Kaltianinen.
Not once showing any signs of intimidation against heavily-favored Boston College, freshman Sean Benitvoglio (Thorold, Ont.), off a cross from linemate Aaron Clarke (Peterborough, Ont.), one-timed the puck low past Kaltianinen near the Eagles goal crease, making the score 3-2 Boston College heading into the third period.
Despite numerous scoring chances for Niagara, which, for the most part, were curtailed by Kaltianinen, the Eagles scored two goals in the third period to pull away from the Purple Eagles.
Patrick Eaves scored his second power-play goal of the contest, making the score 4-2 Eagles at the 2:15 mark of the final period. Eaves was left open on the backside and one-timed the puck past VanNynatten.
Shannon would add an insurance goal at 7:13 of the third period to give Boston College a three-goal lead.
Shots were in favor of Boston College, 39-28, with Kaltianinen making 26 saves for his 26th win of the season. VanNynatten made 34 saves in the loss.
On the man advantages, the Eagles were 2-of-5 on power-play opportunities, Niagara went 1-of-5.
Following the win, Boston College advanced to the Northeast Regional Final against the University of Michigan (which defeated the University of New Hampshire, 4-1, in the other regional semifinal).
Niagara, which advanced to its second-ever NCAA Tournament, ended the season with the second-most wins in program history (21).
"We return 20 players with NCAA-tournament experience," junior captain Barret Ehgoetz said. "It’s never too early to think about next season."
