BOSTON - If you were looking at numbers alone, it would be easy to say that Boston University didn't stand a chance against the nation's top team, Boston College.
Yet when Boston College and Boston University square off in the Beanpot in front of a sellout crowd at TD Garden, all bets are off.
The Terriers did all they could to pull off a stunning upset, pushing BC to the brink. But in the end, they couldn't stop Boston College's Tommy Cross from sending the Eagles to victory.
Cross scored the game-winning goal on a slapshot 3:17 into overtime, giving No. 1 Boston College a 3-2 victory over archrival and No. 14 Boston University in the opening round of the 59th annual Beanpot on Monday night.
"I thought it was an terrific college hockey game," said Boston College associate head coach Mike Cavanaugh, speaking in place of Eagles' head coach Jerry York, who had laryngitis. "You had everything in that game. You get an overtime game in the Beanpot, and we talked about it this week, you don't get second chances in the Beanpot."
Boston College will now face Northeastern, which won its first-round game against Harvard (4-0), in the Beanpot championship game next Monday.
The meeting between the Eagles and Huskies in the tournament's final round will mark the third time that the two schools will play each other for the Beanpot title. Northeastern won the first meeting in the title game, edging the Eagles 5-4 to win the Beanpot on February 11, 1980. BC would even the score, though, beating the Huskies, 8-2, in the Beanpot championship game on February 4, 1983.
Philip Samuelsson and Jimmy Hayes each scored in the win for Boston College (20-6-0). Senior goaltender John Muse was outstanding in net, turning away 34 shots in 63 minutes.
"It feels really good," said Cross about the Eagles' win. "It's a great win for our team."
Read more about Beanpot 2011 Victory
Yet when Boston College and Boston University square off in the Beanpot in front of a sellout crowd at TD Garden, all bets are off.
The Terriers did all they could to pull off a stunning upset, pushing BC to the brink. But in the end, they couldn't stop Boston College's Tommy Cross from sending the Eagles to victory.
Cross scored the game-winning goal on a slapshot 3:17 into overtime, giving No. 1 Boston College a 3-2 victory over archrival and No. 14 Boston University in the opening round of the 59th annual Beanpot on Monday night.
"I thought it was an terrific college hockey game," said Boston College associate head coach Mike Cavanaugh, speaking in place of Eagles' head coach Jerry York, who had laryngitis. "You had everything in that game. You get an overtime game in the Beanpot, and we talked about it this week, you don't get second chances in the Beanpot."
Boston College will now face Northeastern, which won its first-round game against Harvard (4-0), in the Beanpot championship game next Monday.
The meeting between the Eagles and Huskies in the tournament's final round will mark the third time that the two schools will play each other for the Beanpot title. Northeastern won the first meeting in the title game, edging the Eagles 5-4 to win the Beanpot on February 11, 1980. BC would even the score, though, beating the Huskies, 8-2, in the Beanpot championship game on February 4, 1983.
Philip Samuelsson and Jimmy Hayes each scored in the win for Boston College (20-6-0). Senior goaltender John Muse was outstanding in net, turning away 34 shots in 63 minutes.
"It feels really good," said Cross about the Eagles' win. "It's a great win for our team."
Read more about Beanpot 2011 Victory
