The Boston University Terriers and the Yale Bulldogs played at Agganis Arena on Tuesday night in the last game before both teams take their final exams for the semester. The teams were on successful stretches before facing off on Commonwealth Avenue. Boston was coming off a hard earned split against the Vermont Catamounts and victories against Harvard and Providence. Yale had earned points in four of their last five games. Both teams looked to close out their semesters on a high note.
Unfortunately for Yale, BU got out to a hot start and dictated the pace of the game. After a flurry of shots from Yale in the first few minutes, BU took over control and were rewarded with a goal off Charlie McAvoy’s back halfway through the period. The Terriers kept up the pace and found a goal from Shane Switzer. BU finished the first period with a 2-0 lead. They totaled 22 shots in the first period. Yale came into the game averaging 26 shots allowed per game, and BU almost matched that total in the first period.
Switzer’s score was his first collegiate goal. He and the team continued their excellent play in the second period. After Bobo Carpenter got a goal inside the first minute of the period, Switzer buried his second goal of the game. He had played since January for BU and had not scored. His development highlights BU’s strength on the blue line. Head coach David Quinn praised his development and explained that he and the team will have a difficult decision when Dante Fabro is ready to go. But he was thrilled with Shane’s development and performance tonight. BU’s offense finished its scoring with a power play late in the second period from Clayton Keller. It was their third game this year scoring five goals or more.
Yale, meanwhile, struggled. They did not get a goal until they trailed 4-0, when their captain, John Hayden, scored his team leading tenth goal of the season. They managed one more goal early in the third period off a turnover by the Terriers and a strong shot by Ryan Hitchcock. However, they did not get closer than that. The Elis were outshot 41-30 and ran into a brick wall in the form of Jake Oettinger, who made 28 saves for the Terriers and drew praise from everyone after the game. The only bulldog who Yale coach Keith Allain praised was his captain, John Hayden. Coach Allain expressed his disappointment in his team and how much they have to improve on for the second half of the season.
BU won the game 5-2 and were happy with the effort to close out the semester. Bobo Carpenter made no small point of that being the reason for their effort. “Our coaches were big on that for us and we wanted to close out the semester on as good a note as possible. We know we have to carry momentum into the second half of the year.” Every member of the Terriers were satisfied with the total game and both teams will now take their final exams for the semester. Yale does not return to the ice until December 28th when they play Ottawa in New Haven. BU will not play until January 5th when Union College comes to Boston.
