GOAL BY GOAL: BC Hockey Finds Its Game, But Manages Only A Tie With Lowell

If you had said earlier this season that BC would outplay Lowell, leave Conte forum with a tie, and be on the right side of the NCAA bubble, we probably would have been thrilled. But instead, BC had been hot for a good stretch of the middle of the season, Lowell had been floundering, and somehow "the right side of the bubble" isn't good enough.

BC fans were left disappointed, with Friday night's 2-2 tie to Lowell dropping BC down to 13th in the Pairwise heading into the Beanpot consolation game against Harvard.

Boston College Goal #1: 5:45 of the 1st period
Adam Gilmour (Noah Hanifin, Alex Tuch)

BC 1, UML 0

It was a real roller coaster of a game. BC started out strong, lulled the crowd to sleep in the 2nd period, had a breakdown early in the third, and then turned on the jets the rest of the game.

BC kicked off the scoring with a goal deflected in from Gilmour off Hanifin's shot from up high. While Lowell might not have the defensive numbers they've had over the last few years, they still really make you work for every opportunity you get.

It isn't much of a surprise that neither of BC's goals came from down low on the goalie's doorstep. Lowell clogged that space up really well.

UMass-Lowell Goal #1: 13:24 of the 2nd period
Adam Chapie (Michael Kapla, Zack Kamrass)

BC 1, UML 1

BC carried the lead into the intermission but really hit the snooze button in the 2nd period, relatively speaking. BC lacked in chances, but they also sent a parade of players to the penalty box. That's a good way to take yourself out of it for a period.

It's not a power play goal for Lowell, but it came right as one expired. The Riverhawks moved the puck around really well on this goal, finally finding Chapie all by himself on the far side for the one-timer shot that beat Demko to tie the game.

UMass Lowell Goal #2 (SHG): 3:40 of the 3rd period
Joe Gambardella (Adam Chapie)

UML 2, BC 1

This was a real low point in the game for BC. After starting out well, sloppy play gave Lowell the lead for the first time on the night, and suddenly BC was chasing the game.

Even though it was a low point, it was also a turning point. Zach Sanford, one of the players responsible for the turnover in BC's own end while on the power play, loses his cool and breaks his stick on the crossbar after this goal.

Finally, signs of life! BC totally turned their game around after that. From this point on it was all BC. That was the only shot Lowell would get until past halfway in the period, with BC getting 12 of their own. And it didn't take long for BC to equalize.

Boston College Goal #2 (PPG): 4:02 of the 3rd period
Ian McCoshen (Noah Hanifin, Adam Gilmour)

BC 2, UML 2 -- FINAL

What a great answer from the Eagles. Still on the same power play, they win the draw and set up a play to get McCoshen the puck all alone at the faceoff dot. He just flat out snipes Kevin Boyle with no one there to screen or tip, and BC was tied up and playing its best hockey of the night.

But try as they might, they never could retake the lead. They controlled play for most of the third, and had a few chances toward the end and in overtime, but 2-2 was the final.

It was pretty frustrating, particularly because they played so well at the end and couldn't come away with the win, but you can't expect to win a game where you play 25 minutes of great hockey. A tie was a just result for both teams, and it keeps BC scrambling away from the tournament bubble.

Next up is Harvard on Monday in the Beanpot consolation, followed by two at Notre Dame to wrap up the regular season.

They're all big games, but with Harvard's struggles, BC needs to come away from the Garden with a win.