CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- The fourth-place Providence College Friars entered Friday night's HOCKEY EAST tilt two points behind the third-place Boston College Eagles. The Friars were looking to gain ground on the sixth-ranked Eagles at Chestnut Hill, Mass. PC played one of its best games of the year shutting down the Eagles and earning a 3-0 win and forcing a tie for third place in HOCKEY EAST standings. It was the Friars' first win against the Eagles since Feb. 7 1997.

With the help of stellar goaltending on both sides, the Eagles and the Friars played forty minutes of scoreless hockey. Friar netminder Boyd Ballard recorded 12 stops in the first and 12 in the second to hold BC scoreless. Scott Clemmensen made eight saves in the first and four in the second while keeping the Friars off the scoreboard.

PC's best scoring opportunity came in the first period when Fernando Pisani broke in on Clemmensen during a short-handed situation only to be shutdown on the backhand as he flashed out the left pad.

The Friars broke the shutout when West Warwick's Drew Omicioli received a pass from Doug Sheppard during a two-on-one break in and sent a backhander past Clemmensen at 4:11 of the third for what proved to be the game-winning goal. The Friars took a two-goal lead when Troy Lake flipped in a rebound during a power play at 8:02 of the third. Sheppard added an insurance goal for the Friars when he poked in a shot at 18:40 of the third.

Ballard made 36 saves while earning his first shutout of the season and becoming the first goaltender to shutout the Eagles in 1998-99.

With the win, Providence raised its record to 13-9 overall and 8-5 in HOCKEY EAST, while Boston College fell to 13-8-2 overall and 8-5 in league standings.

Providence returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 23 against Boston College at PC's Schneider Arena at 7:00 p.m.

Friday, January 22, 1999

Conte Forum, Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Providence College (13-9) 0 0 3 -- 3 15-49 1-5

Boston College (13-8-2) 0 0 0 -- 0 18-53 0-3

Per Time Team Goal Scorer (Assists)

3 4:11 PC Drew Omicioli 4 (Doug Sheppard, Mike Omicioli) GW

3 8:02 PC Troy Lake 12 (Josh MacNevin, Jon Coe) PP

3 18:40 PC Doug Sheppard 8 (Drew Omicioli, Mike Omicioli)

Penalties by period

PC 6-12 6-31 3-6 --15-49

BC 5-10 8-35 4-8 --18-53

Saves:

Boyd Ballard (PC) 12 12 12 --36 (60:00)

Scott Clemmensen (BC) 8 4 13 --25 (60:00)

Attendance: 7,653 (Conte Forum)