BOSTON - The Boston University men's ice hockey team capped off a two-win home weekend on Saturday evening, defeating Holy Cross by a score of 3-2 at Agganis Arena to improve to 2-0-0 on the young season.
The Terriers never trailed in the game and got goals from sophomore Danny O'Regan, freshman Nick Roberto and junior Cason Hohmann. Senior Garrett Noonan earned two assists and sophomore Matt O'Connor made 21 saves for BU in his first start since Feb. 26.
BU got on the scoreboard first at 10:43 of the opening period when O'Regan got ahead of the Holy Cross defense, drew a penalty and then roofed a shot over Holy Cross netminder Matt Ginn. Noonan sprung O'Regan with a great lead pass after picking off the puck when Holy Cross attempted to dump it into the BU zone.
Mike McNamara was able to give the Crusaders an equalizer on a power play just 56 seconds into the middle frame when he backhanded a rebound at the right crease. Cameron Lawson and Nilan Nagy picked up assists on the play.
The tie didn't last long, however, as Roberto scored his first collegiate goal at 4:34 of the second to help BU regain the lead for good. Sophomore Ahti Oksanen picked up his fourth assist of the weekend as his shot from the left nicked the post and off Ginn before Roberto pounced on the puck and sent it home.
Hohmann gave BU a 3-1 advantage on a power play with 4:52 left in the second. The junior got his first goal of the season when he converted at the left post following a rebound off a shot by Noonan. Sophomore Matt Lane also assisted on the tally, which was the eventual game-winner.
Holy Cross made it a one-goal game again when Adam Schmidt weaved through the BU defense and slid the puck around O'Connor's left skate at 3:59 of the third period.
That would be as close as the visitors would get, however, as O'Connor and the Terrier defense withstood a late push to remain undefeated after opening weekend.
Ginn made 24 saves for the Crusaders, who were playing in their season opener. The Terriers held a 27-23 shot advantage and went 1-of-6 on the power play. Holy Cross converted one of its its four chances with the man advantage.
The Terriers will return to action next weekend (Oct. 18-19) hosting No. 15 Rensselaer on Friday (7:30) before No. 3 Wisconsin makes its first-ever trip to Agganis on Saturday (7:00).