FINAL SCORE: No. 10 Boston College 6, No. 17 Vermont 5 | Box Score
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – No. 17 Vermont cut a three-goal deficit to one late in the third period but the comeback fell short and 10^th-ranked Boston College held on for a 6-5 Hockey East victory on Saturday afternoon at Conte Forum.
 
The Catamounts split the weekend series and dropped to 17-11-2 (9-8-1 HEA), while the Eagles improved to 18-10-2 (11-6-2 HEA).
 
Brady Shaw scored a pair of goals in the third period to increase his team-leading total to 14. Malcolm McKinney and Jonathan Turk each collected a goal and an assist in a losing effort, while Mike Paliotta posted a pair of assists.
 
UVM out-shot BC 45-31, including a 17-6 edge in the final frame.
 
"The guys showed great character particularly in the third period," said head coach Kevin Sneddon. "They didn't get too low when we were down by as many as three. In the third period, we played extremely well and believe it or not we had chances to tie it up. It's tough to lose but when I look at the way we played all weekend here in Chestnut Hill, we have to be optimistic."  
 
The teams combined for five goals and 30 shots on goal during an offensive first period.
 
Boston College netted the first two of the afternoon as Ian McCoshen opened the scoring with a one-timer from the right point on the power play at 4:05. Just 1:12 later, Teddy Doherty doubled the lead as he finished a pass from below the goal line off the tape of Scott Savage.
 
McKinney grabbed one back for the Catamounts at 8:46, just seconds after a power play had expired. Turk fluttered a pass into the low slow, and McKinney beat Thatcher Demko high glove side with a wrist shot. Ori Abramson collected the second assist on the play for his first career point.
 
McCoshen sent a shot through traffic inside the left post with 2:05 remaining in the frame to restore BC's two-goal cushion. Mike Santaguida (18 saves) was screened as the puck floated past his blocker for McCoshen's second tally of the period.
 
UVM grabbed an important goal with the clock ticking down on the opening frame as Boston College attempted a clear along the far boards. Paliotta fired a shot toward the left post, and Travis Blanleil killed the puck's momentum as it trickled past Demko for his first collegiate goal. The rookie's linemate Dan Senkbeil picked up the secondary assist.
 
Less than two minutes into the second, Quinn Smith beat Santaguida glove side from below the right faceoff dot to put the Eagles back up by a pair. Austin Cangelosi then tipped a Doherty pass five-hole from the edge of the crease on the power play midway through the period for a 5-2 cushion.
 
Brody Hoffman replaced Santaguida after the fifth Boston College goal. Demko made 13 saves at the other end for the Eagles in the second period to keep the Catamounts off the board.
 
Turk cut the advantage back to two five minutes into the third, lifting a backhand into the roof of the net off a McKinney pass in the low slot.
 
Alex Tuch responded for Boston College at the midway point of the frame, deking into the Catamount zone and sending a wrist shot into the upper right corner.
 
Shaw lifted UVM back into the game three and a half minutes later, finishing a rebound at the right doorstep past a sprawling Demko. Paliotta and Jake Fallon had the assists as the BC lead was trimmed to 5-3.
 
Vermont pulled Hoffman for an extra skater with 2:28 remaining in the game, and Shaw blasted a slap shot glove side through traffic with 24 seconds left for his second of the night. Hoffman remained on the bench for the final seconds, but BC sealed the puck in the corner to preserve the win.
 
UVM returns to Gutterson Fieldhouse for Senior Weekend against Merrimack on Friday (Feb. 20) and Saturday (Feb. 21) at 7:05 p.m. Prior to Saturday's game, UVM will honor its senior class of Jake Fallon, Nick Luukko, Colin Markison, Mike Paliotta, and Kyle Reynolds.
 
Pre-game radio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. each night on WVMT 620-AM and SportsJuice.com with Alastair Ingram on the call, and both games will be streamed for free in high definition at CatamounTV.com.
 
Tickets can be purchased online at UVMathletics.com/Tickets, in person at the UVM Athletic Ticket Office in Patrick Gym, or over the phone by calling 802-656-4410.