Jan. 27, 2005

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AMHERST, Mass. - Each time Massachusetts has faced Boston College this season, the Eagles have been ranked No. 1 in the nation. On Thursday night at the Mullins Center, BC continued their winning ways with a 5-2 victory over UMass (10-14-2, 4-9-2 HE) in front of 6,452 fans.

BC's Chris Collins opened the scoring just 4:19 into the contest, coming from Ryan Murphy and Stephen Gionta. Down 1-0 early on, UMass was afforded a power play opportunity under two minutes later when Brian O'Hanley was called for holding. Freshman David Leaderer (Rochester, N.Y.) tied the game at one at 6:31 with a screened shot from the blueline, assisted by Stephen Jacobs (Westminster, Mass.) and Jeff Lang (Westwood, Mass.).

The Eagles (16-3-4, 10-1-4) regained the lead at 14:13 when Patrick Eaves' shot from the point caught the inside of the crossbar to make it 2-1. That goal closed the scoring for the first period.

Boston College added to their one-goal lead at 4:46 of the middle period to make it 3-1, the goal by Brian Boyle. But again the power play brought UMass new life when Kevin Jarman (Aurora, Ont.) Jarman connected on a Lang pass to make it 3-2. Leaderer also assisted on the goal. Jarman's goal was his second in three games and fourth of the season.

But again BC opened up a two-goal lead late in the second when O'Hanley redirected a shot in front of UMass' Gabe Winer (Stoughton, Mass.) The 4-2 lead stood through the period.

The Eagles' Matt Greene closed out the scoring for the game at 17:00 in the final period.

Winer helped keep the game close, stopping four odd-man rushes, including two BC opportunities to skate in alone. The junior made 24 saves in the game.

UMass was 2-for-6 with the man advantage. Shots were 29-20 in favor of the Eagles.

The weekend series now shifts to Chestnut Hill for tomorrow night's game. Game time is set for 7 p.m.