ST. PAUL, Minn. – Second-period goals by Jared Wright and Rieger Lorenz gave Denver a 2-0 lead over Boston College in the 2024 national championship game.
Boston College was unable to take advantage of some early opportunities in the game’s opening period. Andre Gasseau hit the post at 2:48 of the frame when a rebound off a wide shot by Oskar Jellvik bounced to the slot.
Exactly five minutes later, BC’s leading scorer Will Smith was sent on a breakaway from the offensive blue line but Denver netminder Matt Davis made a strong left pad save to deny the rookie phenom.
In the second, Denver’s defense became the story, limiting space and time all over the ice. Then at 9:42, the Pioneers offense struck.
Wright found space on the right side and fired a high shot. The puck hit the left post, bounced off goalie Jacob Fowler’s back and then hopped along the ice multiple times, eluding the stick of Eagles defenseman Drew Fortescue and it trickled into the net.
That certainly sparked the Pioneers.
Fowler was forced to stop Wright on a breakaway at 12:55 and Aidan Thompson in close at 14:04.
But Fowler couldn’t stop a blocker side snipe by Lorenz at 15:16 that gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead. It was the first time in the tournament that Denver has led by two goals.
Denver held Boston College’s potent offense, which has scored four or more goals in seven straight games, to just 12 shots through two periods.