Luck robbed junior forward Matt Nieto of multiple chances at a hat trick Tuesday, but the Boston University men’s hockey team will take the two goals it got from the junior forward in a 5-2 win over Merrimack College.
Nieto scored both of the Terriers’ (15-14-2, 12-9-2 Hockey East) second-period goals — their fourth and fifth of the game — giving them a cushion that came in handy later when Merrimack (14-12-6, 12-8-3 Hockey East) scored twice in the third. BU is now 6-2-2 when Nieto scores a goal and 9-5-2 when he has a point. Along with his linemates, he led the way in the most dominant offensive performance BU has had in months.
“The puck jumped in the net for us,” said BU coach Jack Parker. “We got some pucks, we made some nice plays, got some goals, took the pressure off.”
Both of Nieto’s goals were of the highlight-reel variety. On the first, sophomore center Danny O’Regan sent Nieto a perfectly timed pass across the slot, and Nieto knocked it past Merrimack goalie Rasmus Tirronen while diving through the air. Nieto began the play himself back in the neutral zone, finding O’Regan with a pass as he cut through center ice.
His second goal came from a long breakout pass by senior defenseman Sean Escobedo, who also set up a goal for Nieto’s linemate, sophomore wing Evan Rodrigues, by blocking a shot to send him on a rush in the first period.
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