Vermont, Boston University Skate to 2-2 Draw

Freshman Jack Downing scored both Catamount goals

BOSTON - Despite putting 17 shots on goal in a opportunity-filled third period, the Boston University men's ice hockey team settled for a 2-2 tie against Vermont on Saturday evening at Agganis Arena. The Terriers held leads of 1-0 and 2-1, but the Catamounts responded each time with the latter coming midway through the second period. BU moves to 5-10-3 on the year with a 4-6-2 league mark, while Vermont now stands at 4-7-5 overall and 3-3-3 in conference play.

Junior Brandon Yip and senior Bryan Ewing each scored for the Terriers, while freshman Jack Downing provided both of the Catamounts' goals.

Both goaltenders were impressive on the night, as senior Joe Fallon recorded 36 saves for Vermont, while senior Karson Gillespie made 22 stops for the Terriers. The teams were even in shots in both the first (9-9) and second (10-10) periods before BU held a commanding 19-5 edge the rest of the way.

Neither team was able to capitalize on its power-play chances, with BU going 0-for-3 and the visitors coming up empty on both their chances. No penalties were called in the final 26:15 of play.

The teams traded goals in the early stages of the contest, with BU getting on the board first at 5:05 when Yip sent home a rebound at the right post. Freshman Nick Bonino won a faceoff in the left circle and fired a shot that went off Fallon before freshman Joe Pereira redirected the puck to an open Yip.

Just 27 seconds later, a Terrier turnover in their own zone led directly to Downing's first goal. Junior Corey Carlson corralled an errant pass in the right corner and found Downing in front of the goal for a quick answer. BU regained the lead at 8:07 of the second period when junior Chris Higgins set up Ewing after collecting a rebound off an initial shot from senior Pete MacArthur. Ewing skated through the left circle before firing the puck past Fallon from the slot for his team-leading ninth goal of the season.

A flukish goal ended up being the equalizer for the visitors. Vermont's Dean Strong punched the puck away from BU sophomore Zach Cohen along the right boards in the Terrier zone and the puck made its way to Downing. The Catamount forward attempted to dump the puck towards the cage, elevating it over the heads of everyone, including Gillespie, before it somehow made its way to the back of the net at the 12:34 mark.

The third was the Terriers' best period of the evening, but it ended up being the only stanza they did not score in. Fallon stopped all 17 shots he faced in the period, as BU created numerous scoring opportunities but could not capitalize. There was action on the other end, however, as Gillespie came up huge when he needed to, including a pair of odd-man breakaways for Vermont.

The Terriers will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 12, when they visit Maine for the teams' first meeting of the season. Game time is set for 7 p.m.