Nov. 17, 2007

Box Score

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - In 2002, Jordan Virtue (Walpole, Mass.) captained the Boston College High School hockey team to a state title. On Saturday night, the junior made his first career goal the game-winner as the No. 14 UMass hockey team defeated No. 9 Boston College, 3-2, at Conte Forum. The Minutemen used a big second period scoring all three of their goals after trailing 2-0 at the first intermission. The win was UMass' fourth against the Eagles in the last six games (4-1-1). The Minutemen return to action on Tuesday at Vermont.

UMass improves to 5-2-4 overall and 3-1-4 in Hockey East, while Boston College falls to 3-3-5 overall and 2-2-4 in the league.

David Leaderer (Rochester, N.Y.), James Marcou (King Park, N.Y.), and Virtue each notched goals in the second period for the Minutemen.

The first period was all Boston College as the Eagles tallied both goals for a 2-0 lead at the intermission outshooting UMass 14-to-9.

Ben Smith scored the game's first goal on a power play rifling a shot as he crashed through the left seam to beat Paul Dainton just six minutes and six seconds into the game. Matt Lombardi put the Eagles up 2-0 when he shot from nearly the identical spot as Smith with just over two minutes remaining in the period.

The second period was all UMass as the Minutemen scored three unanswered goals. Leaderer, Marcou and Virtue each tallied goals to put UMass up 3-2 heading into the second intermission. UMass outshot Boston College 13-to-5 in the period.

Leaderer blasted a shot from just inside the blueline that hit the inside bottom of the crossbar and bounced down just over the goal line nine minutes and 14 seconds into the period. It was his first goal of the season.

Marcou tied the game just over three minutes later when he intercepted a Boston College clear inside the UMass offensive zone. He skated towards the right face-off circle and ripped a wrist shot that beat Muse inside the right post.

The Minutemen took their first lead of the game when Virtue netted his first collegiate goal at the 15:27 mark of the period. The former Boston College High School captain beat Muse after Scott Crowder fed him a pass from behind the goal.

UMass goalie Paul Dainton made 30 saves on the night - the fourth time in his career that he posted 30-or-more in a game. His Saturday night performance was coming off his career-best 34 save effort on Friday night in Amherst.