thaller@sustar.DEC (Kurt Tex Thaller, LTN2-2/H17 617 486-6643 [DTN:226-6643]) (02/18/86)
Associated Press Mon 17-FEB-1986 13:56 HKC--College Hky Rndp
By KEN O'QUINN
Associated Press Writer
Boston College will try to widen its one-point lead over Boston
University in Hockey East when the two antagonists meet Wednesday
in a take-no-prisoners grudge game.
Meanwhile, in the ECAC Harvard leads RPI, with those two teams
also meeting in a key encounter this week.
BC (19-9-1), which beat Providence 5-1 and Lowell 3-0 last week,
hopes to avenge its loss to the Terriers in the Beanpot tournament
championship.
``Overall, defensively we've been a lot better,'' said BC Coach
Len Ceglarski. ``We haven't been giving up any easy goals,'' which
was happening occasionally earlier in the year, and with playoffs
approaching, ``everybody plays better defense.''
BU, meanwhile, bumped off Maine twice to improve its record to
18-10-2 for 38 points in the standings, one behind BC. The Terriers
beat Maine 3-2 and 6-3.
Northeastern Coach Fernie Flaman is concerned about his defense,
which gave up 16 goals in two games. After losing to Harvard 7-1 in
the Beanpot, the third-place Huskies (17-11-1) were treated to a
9-1 thrashing when they visited New Hampshire.
``How many 2-on-1s and 3-on-2s did we give them?'' Flaman fumed
after the game. Trailing 2-0 with just 1:24 gone in the game, the
Huskies applied greater pressure in the offensive zone but failed
to score on numerous opportunities, then found themselves behind
the play as UNH skated away.
The Providence Friars (10-21-1), who beat UNH 4-2, need one more
win to grab the hird and final home-ice spot for the playoffs.
Lowell's two-man forecheck against BC failed to create enough
scoring chances for the fifth-place Chiefs, who slipped to 6-23-2.
Maine lost twice to BU to stand 6-22-1. The Black Bears looked
impressive in opening a 3-0 lead in the second game, but after BU
went ahead 4-3, Maine folded.
UNH finally found the way out of its own zone and caught
Northeastern playing poorly in a 9-1 win, but the Wildcats lost 4-2
to Providence Sunday.
In the ECAC, Harvard (15-2) solidified its grasp on first place
with a 4-3 overtime win against Cornell and a 5-1 defeat of
Colgate. Tim Smith's three goals against Colgate included the 50th
of his career.
Defenseman Mike Dark, who has had a strong season, chipped in a
goal and an assist to help RPI beat Princeton 5-3, leaving the
Engineers in second place at 12-4-1.
Third-place Yale (12-6) dropped a 6-2 decision to St. Lawrence
but came back to beat Clarkson 5-2 with the help of Bob Logan's two
goals. Logan became only the third Yale player ever to score 60
goals in a career.
After losing to Harvard in overtime Cornell took it out on
Dartmouth 5-0. The Big Red (10-5-2) were led by goalie Doug
Dadswell, the ECAC Player of the Week for his 46-save performance
against Harvard and his 29 stops against Dartmouth.
Fifth-place Clarkson split, beating Brown but losing to Yale, to
stand 9-6-3). Vermont halted its skid with a 5-2 win over
Princeton. Freshman standout Kyle McDonough had a goal and an
assist for Vermont.
Colgate (8-8) beat Dartmouth 8-5 before losing 5-1 at Harvard.
St. Lawrence took two, beating Yale 6-2 and Brown 5-3, but eighth
place is not secure. No. 9 Princeton (6-10-1) dropped its two games
this weekend, but the Tigers, who host Clarkson and St. Lawrence
this weekend, still could catch the Saints.