Brian Tedder, Collegian Staff

Saturday night the Massachusetts hockey team knocked off Boston University in a 5-1 game at the Mullins Center, avenging a 3-0 defeat Friday in Boston.

It was the type of win that makes one wonder where the Minutemen have been since the start of 2008.

Cory Quirk scored a pair of goals and added an assist as the Mass Attack stayed in control throughout the game, much like they did for most of the first half of the season.

“I’m really happy that the kids were determined to get themselves back on track,” UMass coach Don Cahoon said.

The Terriers nearly doubled up the Minutemen in shots on goal, 28-15, but great play on the defensive end held BU to one goal. The teams traded goals in the first period, but UMass scored two goals each in the second and third for the convincing victory.

“It was nice that the offense could be generated by the defense, but it was the defense that really set the tone,” Cahoon said.

Goaltender Paul Dainton made 27 saves in the game, but also got plenty of help from his defenseman, including Martin Nolet, who fended off a 3-on-1 early in the game to prevent an easy goal for BU.

Quirk opened the scoring on the power play just over three minutes into the game, tipping a shot by P.J. Fenton from the top of the left circle. Quirk dropped the blade of his stick as the puck came in, redirecting it through BU goalie Brett Bennett’s legs.

The Terriers did not respond until the final minute of the first period, when Brandon Yip scored from the left point.

The Minutemen were aggressive throughout the first and played with a sense of urgency, which has been badly needed, entering the final two weeks of the regular season.

The second period was back-and-forth until the midway point, when Scott Crowder scored his second goal of the season to break the tie.

Pressed in his own zone, defenseman Justin Braun cleared the puck out by lobbing it over everyone. Crowder found himself all alone at the BU blue line with the puck.

He brought puck toward the net from wide to the right, faked the forehand and had an easy backhand into an open net.

“[Braun] chipped it off the glass. I had just come off the bench, so I was behind the defense,” Crowder said. “I skated in a little bit. I think the goalie came out for a poke check, and I just beat him.”

Quirk scored again on the power play with three minutes remaining in the second. Alex Berry found him creeping into the slot and got the puck to him. Quirk relayed the shot past Bennett and just inside the right post.

In the third, Quirk returned the favor to Berry, as the duo hooked up on a shorthanded goal, Berry’s second of the season.

Quirk forced a turnover and brought the puck into the BU zone. It seemed as though Quirk was going for the hat trick, and Bennett seemed to agree because he didn’t see Berry following the play.

Quirk saw him, and fed him the puck Bennett moved over to make a play. Berry one-timed the puck for the easy goal.

“I saw Al come in late,” Quirk said. “He made a good play not going hard to the net and staying back a little. Then I just found him and he put it home.”

The goal was a deal-breaker for the Terriers, who looked more frustrated the rest of the third period than they were determined to make a comeback.

With a two-goal lead, the Minutemen found themselves on the penalty kill, and in serious danger of losing momentum. Instead, they closed out the game with a clutch play.

BU coach Jack Parker pulled Bennett with six minutes remaining to try and create some kind of momentum swing.

“There was no sense in letting the score stay at 4-1,” he said.

The Minutemen had a player in the penalty box, creating a minute of 6-on-4 hockey for BU. The defense held on through the final minutes of the game, and Chris Davis scored an empty-netter with three minutes left.

Jeremy Rice can be reached at [email protected].