Spartans hang tough, but can't get past Boston, 2-1

Boston — Boston University’s age, speed and size proved to be too much for the young MSU hockey team, as the Spartans fell 2-1 to the Terriers on Saturday night in the championship game of the Ice Breaker Invitational at Agganis Arena.

MSU head coach Rick Comley was disappointed with the loss, but recognizes how profitable seeing a team as skilled as Boston will be for his young squad.

“BU is an excellent team and they are exactly what we thought and exactly what we needed,” Comley said.

Despite the loss, two Spartans were named to the All-Ice Breaker Team. Senior captain Jeff Lerg was named the goaltender of the tournament while sophomore Jeff Petry made the team for his defensive work.

The Spartans were able to skate with the Terriers though the first period and keep the score notched at zero despite committing three penalties and giving up 9 shots.

But the Terriers almost took the lead with eight minutes left in the first period when the puck found its way under Lerg and into the Spartans net, but the goal was called back after a scrum caused the net to be dislodged. The referees double-checked the call by using video replay and the goal was disallowed.

The Terriers took it to the Spartans in the second period, scoring two goals and firing 14 shots on Lerg while the Green and White were only able to tally five – none of which were solid scoring opportunities.

Boston senior Jason Lawrence scored a shorthanded goal for the Terriers at 6:44 of the second period on a broken play in front of the MSU net. The puck bounced right out to Lawrence in the slot and he fired a wrist shot over Lerg’s shoulder.

The Terriers tallied again with about five minutes to go in the period when sophomore defender Kevin Shattenkirk faked a slap shot and decided to throw a wrist shot at the net that was meant to be deflected. Lerg was bumped by a Boston forward and the puck slid across the ice under him.

The Spartans got on the board with six minutes left in the game on a Jeff Petry power play goal, but it was too little, too late for the Spartans.

MSU had a 5-on-3 for just under 30 seconds with 4:35 left in the game but were unable to capitalize.

Lerg was pleased with how the Spartans were able to stay in the game until the very end against a very seasoned team.

“I think our team was a little shell-shocked coming into BU,” Lerg said. “(Especially) having 11 freshmen coming in with most of them playing big roles on the team, but I think it was just a good learning lesson.”

Published on Saturday, October 11, 2008