Frozen goods
Wilson, BU rally to put Vermont on ice
WASHINGTON - He is a Hobey Baker finalist, a first-round NHL draft pick, and he's considered among the top forwards in college hockey.
Sophomore center Colin Wilson added another accolade to his growing résumé, scoring the winning goal with 5:41 remaining to lift Boston University to a 5-4 victory over Vermont in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals last night at the
Senior left wing Chris Higgins took a shot from the top of the left circle that Catamounts goaltender Rob Madore stopped, but Wilson, perched on the doorstep, buried the rebound - and BU's Hockey East rival in the process. The Terriers, seeking their first title since 1995, advanced to the NCAA championship game tomorrow night against Miami Uni versity.
"I thought the third period was really a great period for us," said BU coach Jack Parker. "We got into the period tied, 3-3. We had been tied with them before, 3-3, in the last two games we played them [Nov. 21 and 22] going into the third period and lost both games, 4-3. Sure enough, [Vermont] scored to make it 4-3 again, and that's where our team really came up big, not just because they scored the goals but how they played.
"There wasn't any individual trying to make the big play, it was just business as usual. I thought the second half of that game was a real clinic by us."
BU (34-6-4) took the lead midway through the opening period. Sophomore defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, at the left point, threw the puck toward the net, attempting to connect with senior right wing Jason Lawrence. But Wilson got a stick on the puck in the slot and redirected it past Madore.
The Terriers made it 2-0 at 16:27 on a nicely engineered puck relay. Wilson won the battle along the left boards and dished to Lawrence, who started a give-and-go with Higgins. Higgins threaded a pass from the left circle past Catamounts sophomore blue liner Josh Burrows in the slot. It went right to Lawrence, who fired a wrist shot over the glove of Madore (23 saves).
The Terriers came close at 3:20 of the second when sophomore center Nick Bonino ripped a shot from the right circle that rattled off the top of the left post.
Only 30 seconds later, the Catamounts (22-12-5) began a three-goal rally. At 3:50, sophomore right wing Wahsontiio Stacey's bid beat BU freshman goalie Kieran Millan (23 saves) from the top of the right circle, finding its way into the far side to make it 2-1.
The Catamounts' next two goals came 45 seconds apart, the first on a power play. At 9:04, sophomore right wing Justin Milo scored on a rebound that glanced off Millan's right pad. Vermont took its first lead, 3-2, at 9:49 on a soft goal. With a clear lane to the net, Burrows fired a wrister from the top of the left circle that beat Millan low to the glove side.
The Terriers rallied to tie it at 18:39 during the man advantage. With defenseman Patrick Cullity off for interference, right wing Brandon Yip relayed the puck along the left boards to Bonino in the right faceoff circle. Bonino found freshman right wing Vinny Saponari in the slot and Saponari beat Madore over the right shoulder and it was all square.
Freshman Drew MacKenzie appeared to put Vermont in the driver's seat on his first goal of the season. The blue liner converted during a power play at 9:40 of the third period, breaking the 3-3 deadlock.
MacKenzie, positioned high between the circles, fired the puck on net and it eluded Millan.
But the Terriers rallied with 6:54 left in regulation when Higgins beat Madore, setting the stage for Wilson's heroics just 1:13 later.
It was a tough end for the Catamounts, but coach Kevin Sneddon couldn't help but be proud of his team.
"Obviously, it's tough to put into words the emotions that are going on in our locker room," said Sneddon. "We had a taste of it towards the end of the game there, and unfortunately, it slipped through our hands. But a lot of that is a credit to Boston University and their strong ability to put up offense.
"We needed to be a little bit better tonight defensively to get the job done. That being said, I couldn't be more proud of our student-athletes and what they've accomplished this season."
