Boston College
Providence
Hockey Falls Just Short In Comeback Bid
January 25, 2002 | Men's Hockey
Jan. 25, 2002
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Senior captain Jeff Giuliano netted a career-high four points - including the 100th of his career - but it was not enough as Providence prevailed over Boston College, 6-4, in HOCKEY EAST action on Friday night at Schneider Arena. The Friars used two first-period goals by Peter Fregoe to post a lead from which the Eagles were not able to recover. BC pulled within one goal with minutes to play in the game, but the Friars added a late empty-net tally to preserve the victory.
Providence (11-12-3, 6-7-1 HEA) scored twice in the game's first 3:11 to open a 2-0 lead. Devin Rask scored 1:36 into the game and Fregoe netted his first goal of the game at 3:11 on the power play. Fregoe scored his second at 16:30, sending the Friars into the locker room at the first intermission with a 3-0 lead.
BC (12-11-2, 5-6-1 HEA) broke onto the scoreboard in the second period when Dave Spina tallied a power-play goal from Ryan Shannon and Giuliano at 3:26. Giuliano's assist was his 100th career point as he became just the 58th Eagle to reach the 100-point mark for his career.
Providence scored twice more in the second period - even-strength tallies by Peter Zingoni and Drew Omicioli - to take a 5-1 lead after two periods.
The Eagles mounted their comeback just 2:18 in the third period when A.J. Walker banged in a rebound of a Giuliano shot. Ales Dolinar also assisted on the goal. At 7:22, Giuliano scored on a give-and-go with Dolinar to pull the Eagles within two goals, 5-3. Brett Peterson was also credited with an assist on the goal.
BC brought the score to 5-4 at 15:32 when Ned Havern scored his fifth goal of the year after taking a pass from behind the net from Giuliano.
The Eagles went for the man advantage in the closing minute and pulled their goaltender at 59:07, but were then whistled for a penalty prior to a face-off. BC skated the penalty kill without their goaltender and surrendered an empty-net, power-play goal at 19:41 to Rask.
Nolan Schaefer made 31 saves in the game for PC, while Matti Kaltiainen made 15 saves for the Eagles. Boston College outshot the Friars 35-21 on the night, including a 13-5 margin the final period.
Boston College dressed only 15 skaters for the game due to illness and injury. John Adams (thumb surgery), Ben Eaves (ribs), J.D. Forrest (flu) and Ryan Murphy (kidney) were not in the lineup for the Eagles.
The two teams will face-off for the final time during the regular season on Sunday, Jan. 25. Game time is 3 p.m. at Kelley Rink as Fox Sports New England will air the game live.
