WASHINGTON, DC – Colin Wilson scored his second goal of the game with about five and a-half minutes remaining, lifting Boston University to a dramatic 5-4 win over the Vermont Catamounts in the NCAA National Men’s Hockey Semifinal on Thursday night.
Photo by Brian Mechling
Boston reached its 10th national title game after overcoming a 4-3 deficit in the final seven minutes of the seesaw game against its conference rival. On the deciding goal, senior forward Chris Higgins fired a shot that Vermont netminder Rob Madore kicked away, but the rebound went directly to Wilson, who tapped the puck in the net.
The Terriers (34-6-4) on Saturday will meet Miami (Ohio), who defeated Bemidji State in the first semifinal on Thursday night.
Wilson, who was taken by the Nashville Predators with the seventh overall pick in the 2008 NHL entry draft, figured in the scoring at the outset of the game, too, deflecting Kevin Shattenkirk’s wrister past Madore 11:19
Photo by Brian Mechling
But Vermont stormed back with three straight goals in the second period, led by Wahsontiio Stacey’s rush down the right wing boards nearly four minutes into the middle frame. Boston showed its poise, however, knotting the game at 3-3 on the power play late in the period, when Vinny Saponari converted a cross-ice pass from Nick Bonino.
Vermont, who had defeated BU twice during the regular season, retook the lead with about 10 minutes remaining, when freshman Drew Mackenzie scored his first college goal. But at 13:06, a sliding Mackenzie accidentally knocked the puck in his own net with his stick after Madore stopped a Higgins shot, and the score was tied again, 4-4.
Photo by Brian Mechling
BU will be heavily favored in the final, in part because its roster boasts two of this year’s three Hobey Baker Award finalists: Wilson and defenseman Matt Gilroy. Contact Adriel.Bettelheim@prohockeynews.com.
Contact the photographer at brian.mechling@prohockeynews.com.
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