BOSTON - The Boston University men’s ice hockey team wrapped up its preseason schedule on a high note Saturday night at Agganis Arena, as it raised its 2009 NCAA championship banner and skated to a 3-2 exhibition win over the U.S. Under-18 Team. Junior Joe Pereira broke a 2-2 tie with just 8.7 seconds left in the second period.
Junior Nick Bonino and sophomore Chris Connolly also scored for the Terriers, who will open their regular season on Friday (Oct. 16) when they visit Massachusetts for a 7 p.m. contest.
Sophomore goaltender Kieran Millan played the first two periods in goal and recorded nine saves while allowing a pair of goals. Junior Adam Kraus stopped all five shots he faced, including two on breakaways, in the third period to help BU secure the victory.
The national team opened the scoring at the 2:01 mark of the first following back-to-back penalties on the Terriers. The resulting 5-on-3 advantage produced a tally by Justin Faulk on assists from Matt Nieto and Jon Merill.
The Terriers scored twice before the end of the first to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission. Bonino converted a slick wrap-around at 12:07 on assists from junior Zach Cohen and sophomore Vinny Saponari, while Chris Connolly potted a power-play goal from the right circle at 17:55 with assists going to freshman Max Nicastro and sophomore David Warsofsky.
Team USA knotted the game midway through the second when it converted on another power-play opportunity. Derek Forbort sent the puck towards the goal from the left point and Austin Czarnik passed off to Brandon Sadd, who punched in the puck from the foot of the right circle at 10:54.
Pereira, who earned first-star honors, provided the heroics as time was running out in the second. Following a faceoff win by senior Luke Popko, the puck was controlled along the left boards by sophomore Andrew Glass, who found Pereira to set up an odd-man rush. From the left faceoff dot, Pereira wristed the puck above goaltender Jack Campbell’s glove with just 8.7 seconds left in the stanza.
The Terriers, who held a 42-16 shot advantage for the game, outshot the visitors by a 17-5 margin in the third, but neither team was able to score. Campbell finished the night with 39 saves.
Prior to the game, the parents of last year’s senior class helped unveil five banners at center ice, capped by the 2009 NCAA title banner. The team also honored its Beanpot and Hockey East regular-season and tournament titles in addition to its Frozen Four appearance.