Box Score DENVER- The University of Denver opened the 2000-01 campaign Friday night with a 3-2 loss to the 1999-2000 NCAA National Runner-up, Boston College Eagles, at Magness Arena. The loss drops Denver to 0-1-0. Boston College remains unbeaten on the season and improves to 3-0-0.
Boston College forward Ales Dolinar scored the game-winner with just under five minutes to play to solidify the Eagle's 3-2 victory. Boston College forwards charged the net and created traffic in the crease. Dolinar scooped up the loose puck and wristed it top-shelf over Denver goalie Wade Dubielewicz (Invermere, B.C.).
Denver opened the contest with an aggressive offensive attack that put Boston College in an early hole. Pioneer forward J.J. Hartmann (Colorado Springs, Colo.), returning from a season-ending knee injury last year, tallied his first goal of the season early in the contest to give Denver the first lead of the night. Denver defenseman Jesse Cook (Englewood, Colo.) set up Hartmann with a pass at the blue-line. Hartmann skated into the offensive zone and fired a wrist shot on goal. Eagle net-minder Tim Kelleher made the initial save but Hartmann grabbed the rebound and skated around the fallen goalie before chipping the puck into the net to put Denver ahead 1-0 at 1:03. The Pioneers continued to pepper Kelleher and out-shot the Eagles 12-3 in the first frame.
Boston College came out in the second stanza and controlled play throughout the ice. Their efforts were rewarded when Ben Eaves scored on a man-advantage opportunity to tie the game 1-1 at 13:57. Boston College fired 14 shots on Dubielewicz in the second period and held Denver to only four.
The Pioneers fought back in the third period and tied the game midway through the third period. Denver forward Jordan Bianchin (Nanaimo, B.C.) tallied his first career goal at 12:39 to knot the game 2-2. Both teams tightened up defensively as the game wore on, but it was Boston College who took advantage of an opportunity late in the game when Dolinar scored the game-winner. Denver failed to convert on six power play opportunities in the contest.
"This was a descent game for our first time out," said Denver head coach George Gwozdecky. "But there are a number of things we still need to work on before tomorrow's game. Give credit to Boston College though, they played well tonight."
The Pioneers will wrap up this two game series against Boston College Saturday, October 21. Face-off is set for 7:05 p.m. MST.
