BOSTON COLLEGE SKATES PAST NORTHEASTERN, 7-1
Sophomore Benn Ferriero posts two goals and two assists for Eagles

Chestnut Hill, Mass. – Sophomore forward Benn Ferriero registered two first-period goals and two assists and classmate Brett Motherwell tied a Hockey East playoff record with four assists to lead No. 2 seed Boston College to a 7-1 victory and the two-game series sweep of No. 7 seed Northeastern in league quarterfinal action in Conte Forum.

With the victory, the Eagles advanced to the Hockey East Tournament semifinal round held at TD Banknorth Garden on Friday, March 16.

Ferriero and Motherwell paced a BC offensive attack that produced six different goal scorers and five players who recorded multiple points.

After Northeastern (13-18-5) opened the scoring when forward Ryan Ginard took advantage of a turnover deep in the Eagles’ defensive zone for his sixth goal of the season, the host Eagles scored four times, including three power-play strikes, in the final 6 minutes and 58 seconds of the first period to take a 4-1 lead.

Senior Joe Rooney notched his 12th goal of the year at 12:42 and Ferriero tallied his first power-play score at 16:10, then doubled the Eagles’ lead at 18:02, just 15 seconds into a two-man advantage. The goals marked Nos. 19 and 20 on the season for Ferriero.

Sophomore forward Brock Bradford (1 goal, 2 assists) was on the receiving of a puck that criss-crossed through the offensive zone touching each of BC’s five attackers before Bradford one-timed his 15th goal of the year into the back of the net with 20.5 seconds remaining in the first period.

Senior captain Brian Boyle (1 goal, 1 assist) scored the team’s fourth power-play goal of the game at 8:53 of the second period and sophomore Dan Bertram increased the Eagles’ margin to five goals – at 6-1 – at 13:49.

The team’s four power-play goals marked the first time since Nov. 21, 2003 – a 7-4 home win over Providence – that the team has scored four times with a man advantage.

Freshman center Matt Lombardi notched his first career goal at 15:42 of the middle period to conclude the scoring for BC (24-11-1), which has now won each of its previous eight games.

Junior goaltender Cory Schneider made 21 saves in 52:55 to earn his 61st collegiate win. Senior Joe Pearce tallied three saves in the final 7:05 for BC.

Northeastern starting goalie Brad Thiessen recorded 12 saves in 33:49. He allowed six goals and falls to 11-17-5. Senior Adam Geragosian tallied 10 saves in 26:11.