CORNELL 4, Harvard 1 … Box Score | Game Recap | Video Highlights
Dartmouth 6, CORNELL 1 … Box Score | Game Recap | Video Highlights
This weekend I experienced the highs and lows of coaching. We had a fantastic win on Friday against Harvard. We played hard and well most of the night. This is always a tough weekend because Harvard and Dartmouth are complete opposites. What one team does is completely different to the other.
On Friday night, we saw the usual pre-game festivities by the fans, but the rink crew did a super and quick job clearing the ice. Harvard did not have a shot on goal until five minutes into the game.
We scored just 1:16 into the game, when sophomore forward Jake Kraft converted his own shot and rebound into the back of the net. On the ensuing faceoff, sophomore forward Ryan Walsh won the draw, and after a couple of quick passes, Walsh got the puck back for a one-timer adding a goal six seconds after the first. The two early goals tied for the third-quickest time between goals in the program history.
At 14:26 mark of the second period, junior forward Nick DeSantis fired a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle at the end of an odd man rush five seconds after the expiration of a Harvard penalty. The visitors scored about two minutes later, taking advantage of a 2-on-1 rush.
At 5:35 of the third period, DeSantis sent a backhander of his own rebound into the back of the net to make it 4-1, three seconds after we failed to score on the power play. With four minutes left in the game, Harvard was on the power play, pulled their goaltender for the 6-on-4 advantage, but our defense didn’t allow any shots-on-goal.
Senior goaltender Ian Shane was fantastic with 14 saves. He made a few spectacular saves to keep a two-goal lead after the first period. The Harvard goalie made 20 saves. Both teams were 0-for-3 on power plays. I thought our penalty kill did a great job all night long.
And now for the ugly. I never understand how you can play so hard one night and then so poorly the next. We lacked execution and tenacity to win back-to-back. It was a chippy game all night and ended with a brawl.
In the first period, Dartmouth took a 1-0 lead at 5:53 when junior forward Luke Haymes converted a rebound for the first of his two goals.
In the second period at 2:23, after we had stopped their third power play, Dartmouth scored a second goal by senior defenseman John Fusco (his father played at Harvard). Less than five minutes later, the Big Green made it 3-0 when Haymes recorded his second. Midway through the period, we finally got on the scoreboard. Sophomore defenseman George Fegaras fired a wrist shot for his first goal of the season to make it 3-1.
The rest of the way it was all Dartmouth – a goal at 8:01 of the third period to make it 4-1. With 5:03 remaining in the game, Dartmouth drew a penalty, and we pulled Shane for a 6-on-4 advantage. But they quickly scored into the empty net at 15:41 and a second one got by Shane at 16:01 recording two shorthanded goals in just 20 seconds.
Shane made 24 saves and the Dartmouth netminder stopped 16 shots. We were 0-for-4 on the power play, and they were 0-for-7.
Our guys were frustrated and unfortunately let their emotions show at the end of the game. We received some suspensions and will need to rally against St. Lawrence (Friday) and Clarkson (Saturday) on the road.
On a happier note: It was great to see some hockey alumni back on campus. Kyle Knopp ’99, Jeff Oates ’99, David Adler ’00, Geoff Lopatka ’96, Rick Sacchetti ’00, and Dan Powell ’01. It is always awesome to catch up and find out what’s happening in their lives.
As always, the team appreciates your support on the road.