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WORCESTER, Mass. – It just wasn’t in the cards for the UMass Lowell River Hawks on Sunday evening as the Boston College Eagles topped the River Hawks in a tight, hard fought Northeast Regional Final.

The River Hawks fall just short of making a return trip to the Frozen Four and end the season a bit earlier than they wanted to. The bright side; the program is shaping up to be one of the top programs in the country. The Eagles will make their 24th appearance in the Frozen Four.

UMass Lowell came up on the bad side of what was a back-and-forth game. The Eagles got out to the first lead of the game on a Kevin Hayes goal at 7:03 in the first period. Of course, a goal that was assisted on by Johnny Gaudreau and defenseman Michael Matheson. Michael Kapla and the River Hawks responded with under two minutes remaining in the first, evening the score heading into the second period.

The River Hawks and Eagles traded goals in the second and third period, but the Eagles got the last laugh as Ian McCoshen received a great pass from Teddy Doherty and placed the puck in the back of the net stick-side. The just under nine minutes remaining in the game wasn’t enough for the River Hawks to return the favor.

UMass Lowell played ‘Lowell style hockey,’ but was matched up against a tough Boston College opponent. This weekend, against Minnesota State and Boston College, was two of the toughest, most evenly matched games the River Hawks had played all season long.

Where losing stings, losing to BC stings even more and for reasons that obviously have nothing to do with Hockey. Because if we’re just talking hockey, the four goals that BC potted this Sunday night were nothing short of spectacular. And that’s what it took to beat the Chiefs. Four spectacular goals. Like the kind that make the Sportscenter Top 10 when Lebron isn’t silent-farting and the NCAA NIT women’s tourney isn’t in full swing.

As far as I’m concerned, it’s now proven beyond a doubt that the program playing at the end of Dutton Street is for real. Many advanced statistics demonstrate this in spades, but the most telling is TOC count…(Total Onces Consumed). My TOC count this season was off the charts. Good hockey. Good Atmosphere. The TaSongas is where I want to be on a cold winter’s night, and Chiefs hockey is the reason why.

So congrats on another great campaign, fellas.  We’ll see you in the fall.