Once again the young UMass team gave up an early lead in last night’s game against #10 Boston University but once again they didn’t give up, clawed their way back into the game late, and came away with a tie and a valuable point from Agganis Arena.

Unfortunately I did not make it to Comm Ave as I was in Amherst for Homecoming and the debacle that was the UMass football game.  Therefore I can’t offer any first hand observations, though I was able to listen to the game during my drive home (there’s an app for that!).  UMass media was also lacking out in Boston with guys like Matt Vautour taking in the misery at McGuirk.  However by all accounts freshman Jeff Teglia, in his first collegiate start, made the difference in the game.  Darren Rowe continues to play well, netting his second goal of the season.  And Marc Concannon, who doesn’t score often but when he does he tends to make them count, scored what ended up being the tying goal with less than 10 minutes left in the third.

Guys like Conor Sheary and Mike Pereira sounded like they had another strong game.  While Brian Keane’s name appeared to be called a lot as he was active throughout the game.  Special teams were good and bad.  After struggling last week on the penalty kill in Minnesota UMass was perfect at killing all four of BU’s power play chances.  Unfortunately on the flip side UMass was 0 for 5 on their extra man chances, registering just one shot in total on the power play.

Certainly the power play stat shows there’s still some work to be done during practice this week.  However getting a tie (and a valuable point) on the road against the #10 team in the country with a freshman goaltender in net is exactly the type of game this team needs to build off of.  It just may be what these freshman need to give them confidence in what they’re doing.  However, it won’t get easy from here.  BU is probably thinking back to lost chances this morning and they won’t have to wait long to get another shot at the Minutemen.  These two teams will meet in Friday’s home opener at the Mullins in a game that will be televised on NESN.  Should be a good one.

Fear The Triangle Player of the Game – Jeff Teglia
This was an easy choice.  After giving up two goals in the first 11 minutes of the game Teglia didn’t give up anymore.  By all accounts he got better as the game went on, which is what you want to see from a young goaltender who is still learning with every period he’s between the pipes.  If Teglia can play like this regularly it will give Toot the luxury of not feeling like he has to rush Dainton back from injury.  If there’s one thing Teglia can improve upon it sounds like it’s to not wander too far from the crease.

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Here’s the recap from UMassathletics.

They’ve also posted the UMass Hockey Preview Show that aired on CBS3 yesterday.

The Boston Hockey Blog has extensive coverage of last night’s game.

The USCHO recap says that the tie left the Pereira family “ecstatic”.

Elsewhere in Hockey East this weekend Maine travelled to East Lansing where they tied and lost to Michigan State.  Boston College had an extremely impressive sweeping beating DU in Denver by the combined score of 9-2.  Lowell travelled to Western New York and picked up a couple ties against Atlantic Hockey’s Niagara and RIT.  Providence had a weekend they’d like to forget getting swept in Duluth by the combined score of 12 to 4.  UNH and Northeastern both picked up ties while Merrimack spanked UConn 7-1 while opening the newly renovated Lawler Arena.  You can see some pictures of the renovations here.