Merrimack's Streak Snapped by #7 Boston College

2/23/2010 12:00:00 AM

CHESTNUT HILL, MA  - The Merrimack hockey team saw its five-game unbeaten streak come to an end Tuesday night, falling to seventh-ranked Boston College 7-0 in front of 2,816 fans at the Conte Forum.

Continuing its push for a playoff berth for the first time since 2004, Merrimack (13-16-1, 10-12-1 HEA) will host #15 Maine for a pair of games next weekend, looking to set a school record for home wins in a season in Division I history with twelve. Limited tickets remain available for both nights and are available for purchase online at merrimackathletics.com.

With four regular season games remaining and three at home, the Warriors sit in the eighth and final playoff spot, one point out of sixth and two points out of fifth place.

"We are guaranteed four more games," head coach Mark Dennehy said. "What we do with those four games will determine if we get to play anymore."

Cam Atkinson led the way for the Eagles, notching a hat trick in the win, while Joe Whitney tallied three assists.

With Stephane Da Costa (Paris, France) out of the lineup, the Eagles jumped out early, scoring three times in 2:55, as Atkinson, Steven Whitney, and Brian Gibbons registered first period tallies. Matt Price made it 4-0 with a short-handed breakaway at 18:31.

Atkinson notched his second of the game, assisted by Joe Whitney, and 20^th of the year late in the second on the power play. He picked up the hat trick at 3:04 of the third.

;Kyle Bigos (Upland, CA) and Justin Bontiatibus (Arlington, MA) each tallied three shots in the loss, Merrimack's first in 18 days.

Making his second straight start, freshman goaltender Parker Milner stopped 17 shots, improving to 8-2 on the season.

Joe Cannata, (Wakefield, MA) last week's Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week, made 12 first-period saves, before giving way to Andrew Braithwaite (Kingston, ON) for the final two periods. Making his first appearance since February 5, Braithwaite finished with 23 saves.

Boston College, in second place in Hockey East, improved to 19-10-2, 14-8-2 (HEA) with the victory, the Eagles' second straight. BC hosts UMass on Friday.