Terriers Open With A Win

Last night, BU kicked off the regular season on the right foot, dropping Providence in their first game of the year. It was your typical October hockey game: fast paced for bits and spurts with some big time lulls.

BU opened the scoring midway through the first. Cason Hohmann, who played by far his best game as a Terrier, found Assistant Captain Ryan Ruikka at the point. Ruikka teed up a slapper that found it's way through traffic, over the shoulder of PC goalie Jon Gillies, and into the top corner of the net. It was Ruikka's first goal in almost two seasons.

With Just under five minutes to play in the first, Providence tied things up at 1-1. Ross Mauermann beat Matt O'Conner high blocker side from the far circle. From where I was, I could not tell if the shot was tipped.

At the start of the second, PC was taking it to the Terriers, controlling the play, all of which was in the BU end. It did not take long for the Friars to take the lead, as Paul De Jersey shoved a rebound past O'Conner's right leg. The blame falls on O'Conner entirely for this goal, as he had a chance to cover up the rebound, but instead allowed a weak goal to the short side.

O'Conner kept it a one goal game midway through the period with a great right leg save, robbing a Providence forward at the top of the crease. Later, Defenseman Sean Escobedo flipped a PC skater with a textbook hip check in the BU zone.

BU exploded in the latter stages of the period. With less than five minutes to play on the frame, Cason Hohmann continued his strong play, setting up Garrett Noonan at the point for a one timer. The shot nicked the inside of the left post, past Gillies and into the brand new bleach white net at Agganis.

With less than two minutes to play I the second, Hohmann found the back of the net himself, banging home a rebound from an Evan Rodrigues shot.

BU controlled the play in the third until the last five or so minutes. That's when Providence started to pressure and BU was back on their heals. In a way, it looked like they were sitting on the one goal lead.

PC strangle pulled Gillies for the extra attacker with well over a minute to play and while BU had possession. Ben Rosen took full advantage of this, launching a flip shot from his own blue line into the vacant net, icing the game for BU.

BU will face UNH next weekend in their first road test of the young season.