In a frustrating first match of ECAC tournament play, the men's hockey team fell 2-1 to Harvard University at Thompson Arena Friday evening. Following the loss, the Big Green (13-12-5, 9-9-4 ECAC) finds itself on the brink of playoff elimination, and needs a win Saturday to keep its season alive.
Having conceded the first goal of the series to the Crimson (10-17-3, 6-14-2 ECAC) in the second period, the Big Green came out firing to start the third and equalized only 9 minutes into the game's final frame with a goal from Jessie Beamish '15. Beamish is no stranger to late game heroics against the Crimson, having netted the game winner when the Big Green hosted the Crimson earlier in the season.
Despite Beamish's effort, a late goal by Crimson freshman Brian Hart proved enough to eke out the win for Harvard. Hart, who found his initial transition effort saved by Cab Morris '14 with three minutes remaining, tucked home his own rebound emphatically, forcing the Big Green into a furious last minute onslaught that saw Harvard goalie Raphael Girard preserve the Crimson lead with several key saves.
Following such a close matchup, the history books tell a complicated tale. Although Harvard has never lost a first-round series after capturing a first game win, a 2011 ECAC quarterfinal matchup between the two teams saw the Big Green come back from a first game deficit to win two consecutive games and the series.The series continues tomorrow at Thompson Arena at 7:00 p.m.
