The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

Stoflet’s Late Rally Leads To Tie With BU

Vermont’s Evan Stoflet ripped a wrist shot from the high slot that eluded heralded Boston University goalie Sean Fields midway through the third period, enabling the Catamounts to forge a hard-earned tie with the sixth-ranked Terriers in front of a sold-out Gutterson Fieldhouse Saturday.

Vermont, 0-2-1, took a 1-0 lead at 9:11 of the first period when junior Scott Mifsud scored on a rebound of a shot by Brady Leisenring. Jeff Corey also assisted on the goal. Corey began the play with a rush down the left side, and he centered it to Leisenring, who got a shot off on Sean Fields despite having a BU defender draped on his back. Fields made the save, but the speedy Mifsud banged in the rebound, his 14th of the year.

Boston University, 1-0-1, responded less than three minutes later on a goal by Kevin Schaeffer just after a Terrier power play had ended. Dan Spang made a sweet pass to Schaeffer, who snuck in the back door and beat Vermont goalie Travis Russell. Frantisek Skladany also assisted on the goal, which came at 11:36.

Russell, as he has been all season, was very sharp in the opening period for Coach Kevin Sneddon’s team. He made six saves, including a beauty on Kenny Magowan midway through the first.

In the second, the Essex Junction, Vt. native made the save of the season thus far, a pad save from his side on Skladany while the teams were skating four-on-four midway through the second. The teams played a fast-paced and penalty-filled second frame, with nine minor penalties called. The Catamounts had a mini shooting gallery late in the second period on the power play, with Jeff Miles getting a couple of rips from the high slot and Jeff Corey getting in close to challenge Fields.

BU took a 2-1 lead on Kenny Magowan’s tip-in goal from the low slot at the 7:00 mark of the third before the Catamounts responded with freshman Evan Stoflet’s first career goal, a rocket from the high slot that beat Magowan high to the glove side. Joey Gasparini and Tim Plant assisted on the goal, what was likely the first of many for the skilled first-year blueliner from Madison, Wisconsin.

“I was really happy with how we competed for 65 minutes against a very good hockey club,” Sneddon said. “But I don’t think anyone in our locker room is satisfied with a tie.”

Russell finished with 27 saves in his third straight strong outing, while Fields stopped 20 for the Terriers.

“We’ve done some great things, but we’ve got a long way to go,” Sneddon continued. “As we start to click a bit better on special teams, I think we’ll be OK for league play.”

The game was a sellout (4,035), Vermont’s second in two home games this season.

-Athletic Communications

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Stoflet’s Late Rally Leads To Tie With BU