Freshman Will Smith scored two goals and Boston College pulled away for a 4-0 win over Michigan in the second game of the NCAA Frozen Four on Thursday in Saint Paul, Minn.
Cutter Gauthier and Gabe Perreault contributed one goal apiece for Boston College (34-5-1), which won its 15th game in a row. The Eagles, who entered the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed, are one win from their first title since 2012.
Boston College will face Denver for the NCAA championship on Saturday evening.
Mark Estapa had six shots on goal to lead Michigan (23-15-3). The Wolverines were shut out for the first time this season.
Eagles goaltender Jacob Fowler stopped all 32 shots he faced to notch the shutout.
Wolverines goaltender Jake Barczewski allowed four goals on 22 shots.
Boston College opened the scoring 1:20 into the first period. Smith capitalized on a two-on-one chance as he took a pass from Ryan Leonard and scored on a wrist shot from the left side of the crease.
The Eagles tallied two goals in 49 seconds to grab a 3-0 lead in the second period.
Smith started the one-two punch with his second goal of the game and his 25th of the season with 7:35 remaining in the middle period. The 19-year-old forward, who was selected No. 4 overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2023, threw the puck toward the crease from behind the net and watched it ricochet off the skate of a Michigan defender and slide across the goal line.
Gauthier, the nation’s leading goal-scorer, followed with his 38th goal to make it 3-0 with 6:46 left in the period. The Anaheim Ducks prospect turned defense into offense as he poked the puck loose, chased it down and scored on a breakaway.
Gauthier moved into a tie for Boston College’s single-season goals record. He matched the school record set by Scott Harlow during the 1985-86 campaign and equaled by David Emma in the 1989-90 season.
Boston College increased its lead to 4-0 on a wraparound goal by Perreault at 5:03 of the third period. It was the 19th goal of the season for Perreault, who is the son of longtime NHL forward Yanic Perreault.
–Field Level Media
