Despite a two-goal effort from sophomore defenseman Mark Borowiecki (Kanata, ONT) and a late rally the Clarkson University Hockey team fell on the road to Boston College 6-5 in non-league action before 5,689 fans at Kelley Rink in Chestnut Hill on Friday evening.
Clarkson, which falls to 4-9-1 overall, resumes ECAC Hockey play next weekend with a home-and-home series against North Country rival St. Lawrence. Ranked 15/16th in the nation, Boston College is unbeaten in its last three games (2-0-1) and snapped a 10-game losing skid in the series against the Golden Knights.
Audio of coach George Roll's post game comments
Specialty teams play was the key in the game as Boston College went 4-of-9 with the man-advantage, including a pair of 5-on-3 tallies. Clarkson connected for two power-play goals in eight chances.
Trailing 6-3 with less than 10 minutes to play, Clarkson staged a late rally but fell just short in its bid to send the game to overtime.
At 12:31 of the third, Borowiecki collected his second goal, a career game-high, and fifth of the season, when he took a pass from junior captain Scott Freeman (Whitby, ONT) and sent a shot from the left circle glove-side high past the BC goaltender as both teams were skating four aside. Senior assistant captain Matt Beca (Mississauga, ONT) also assisted on his second goal of the game to pick up his 97th career point.
Audio of Borowiecki's second goal
With 3:25 remaining in regulation, sophomore Corey Tamblyn (Bobcaygeon, ONT) tipped in a shot from the point by freshman defenseman Andrew Himelson (Monroe, NY) for his first collegiate goal, a power-play marker to make it a one-goal contest. Freeman also recorded his third assist of the game on the goal. The Knights pulled sophomore goaltender Paul Karpowich (Thunder Bay, ONT) for the extra attacker with 1:22 left on the clock, but despite controlling the puck in the BC end, Clarkson could not come through with the tying score.
Audio of Tamblyn goal
The Eagles made the most of a slow start by the Knights and took advantage of four power-play opportunities in the opening stanza to grab a 2-1 first-period lead.
Penalty troubles cost the Knights early against Boston College. The Eagles got on the scoreboard with a power-play marker at 5:33 as Cam Atkinson’s shot deflected in off a skate in front. Clarkson came back with a goal by Borowiecki at 6:35, putting in his own rebound from the bottom of the left circle to tie the contest. Beca assisted.
Audio of Borowiecki's first goal
The Eagles, who out shot the Green and Gold 16-3 in the first, regained the lead at 10:30. Paul Carey lifted in a rebound from the top of the crease as BC was skating on a 5-on-3 power play.
Boston College out scored the Knights 3-2 in the middle frame to extend their lead to 5-3 though 40 minutes. Early in the second period, freshman Adam Pawlick (Utica, NY) tucked in a shot at the near post for his fifth goal of the season, tying the score at 2-2. Tamblyn and Freeman assisted.
Audio of Pawlick goal
The Eagles came right back with a pair of goals 59 seconds apart to regain control. Thirty-two seconds after Pawlick’s goal, Barry Almeida answered with BC’s third score. A power-play tally from Ben Smith made it 4-2 for the home team at 5:47.
Clarkson, however, stayed close when Beca connected off an assist from Freeman for a power-play goal at 11:53.
Audio of Beca goal
With just 21.8 seconds remaining in the period, Chris Kreider took the momentum away from the Green and Gold as he scored from in close to put Boston College up by two goals, 5-3 after two.
The Eagles out shot the Knights 30 to 18. Reigning ECAC Goaltender of the Week, Karpowich posted 24 saves, including two shorthanded breakaway stops on Almeida.
