No. 1 Eagles Roar Back at UMass Lowell to Sweep Weekend Series

LOWELL, Mass. – Top-ranked Boston College responded from an early 2-0 deficit with four straight goals and swept UMass Lowell in a home-and-home series with a 4-3 Hockey East victory on Saturday at the Tsongas Center.

The Eagles improved to 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and to 13-3-1 overall, while the River Hawks dropped to 4-7-0.

Drew Helleson and Jack McBain each had a goal and two assists, while Nikita Nesterenko scored the go-ahead goal nine seconds into the third period and added an assist for his fifth multi-point game.

McBain set a new career-high with an assist and a point in his sixth straight game. Helleson's three points were a career-best and the sophomore was plus-4 in the victory, finishing the weekend with four points.

Trailing 2-0 after 20 minutes, BC scored a pair of 4-on-4 goals in the span of 1:17 in the second period from Mike Hardman and Helleson to knot the score. Nesterenko's tally was followed up by a trip from McBain at 4:37 of the third for a 4-2 cushion.

UMass Lowell couldn't pull goaltender Owen Savory until less than 60 seconds remained and scored at the final buzzer for a 4-3 final score.

Spencer Knight made 29 saves for the second straight night and picked up his 12th victory between the pipes.

The teams combined to go 0-for-5 on the power play.

SCORING SUMMARY
1st 4:36, UML (0-1) | From the right wing half boards, Connor Sodergren centered a pass to Blake Wells between the circles and he wristed a shot into the top right corner to beat Knight glove side.

1st 17:15, UML (0-2) | Reid Stefanson hit Andre Lee in stride across the Boston College line behind the defense and the forward deked to his backhand, slipping the puck around Knight's left pad.

2nd 11:08, BC (1-2) | Hardman stick-handled through neutral ice into the left wing circle and his centering pass deflected off Seth Barton's stick past Savory to put the Eagles on the board.

2nd 12:25, BC (2-2) | Nesterenko collected a loose puck in the right corner and curled into the high slot before finding Helleson in the bottom of the right circle for a first-time finish past Savory's glove.

3rd 0:09, BC (3-2) | Off the opening faceoff of the final frame, McBain slipped the puck to Nesterenko with one hand and the freshman ripped a shot high glove side from the top of the right circle.

3rd 4:37, BC (4-2) | Helleson reeled in a pass from Eamon Powell at the left point and slid a shot toward the low slot, where McBain deflected the puck over Savory's blocker inside the left post.

3rd 19:59, UML (4-3) | During an extra attacker situation, Lucas Condotta located a rebound at the left doorstep and beat Knight to the near post as time expired.

UP NEXT
Hockey East will announce its weekly schedule next Tuesday.

No. 1 Eagles Roar Back at UMass Lowell to Sweep Weekend Series

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Team Stats

Drew Helleson

Jack McBain

Nikita Nesterenko

Mike Hardman

Players Mentioned

Mike Hardman

Drew Helleson

Spencer Knight

Jack McBain

Nikita Nesterenko

Eamon Powell

Players Mentioned

Mike Hardman

Drew Helleson

Spencer Knight

Jack McBain

Nikita Nesterenko

Eamon Powell