Boston College and Alaska-Anchorage played to a 4-4 tie in the second round of the Nye Frontier Classic on Saturday, October 13. A shootout after the game was played to determine tournament standings. Boston College finished third in the tournament. Ben Eaves and J.D. Forrest were selected to the All-Tournament team.
Freshman Ryan Shannon kicked off the scoring and netted his first career goal at 6:36 of the first period. He came streaking down center ice from the blue line and pocketed a pass off the boards from defenseman Joe Schuman for a 1-0 Eagle lead.
BC (1-1-1) extended its lead to 2-0 when junior defenseman Bill Cass scored just his second-career goal at 13:08 of the first period. Cass picked up the rebound of his own shot and put it past Seawolf goaltender Chris King. Sophomore Ben Eaves sent the original shot in on King for the assist.
Alaska-Anchorage (1-0-1) scored at 19:00 of the first to bring the score to 2-1 headed into the first intermission. Jim Dahl stripped a BC defender at the blueline and sent in John Hopson, who walked in alone on Eagle goaltender Tim Kelleher for the goal.
The Eagles took a 3-1 lead at 5:08 of the second period on J.D. Forrest’s first goal of the season. Shannon stole the puck from a Seawolf defender at the blueline, carried it into the zone, then faked a shot and passed off to Forrest coming down the wing.
UAA brought the game back within one goal with four minutes left in the second period Mike Scott scored a power-play goal. The Eagles were caught in a line change and were whistled for too many men on the ice.
Jeff Giuliano converted a 5×3 power play for BC 53 seconds into the third period for a 4-2 BC lead. Tony Voce and Shannon assisted on the goal.
Gregg Zaporzan brought the Seawolves within one goal with 3:12 left in regulation when he scored a 5×3 goal. UAA tied the game at 4-4 with no time remaining on the clock when he stuffed in the puck amid a scramble in the crease. Time had appeared to expire, but the officials awarded the goal to the Seawolves.
The two teams played to an official NCAA 4-4 tie after a scoreless overtime period. BC won the shootout, 2-1, as Eaves and Giuliano both scored goals, which do not count toward their individual statistics.
Kelleher finished the night with 16 saves (not including four in the shootout), while King stopped 30 Eagle shots (not including three in the shootout).
Boston College will return to action on Friday, Oct. 19 when the team opens its home schedule against UMass-Lowell. Alaska-Anchorage will head to in-state rival Alaska-Fairbanks for two games in the first half of the Alaska Cup.
