Bobcats Fall to Harvard
CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Ben Nelson (Spokane, Wash.) scored his 11th goal of the season in a 4-1 loss to Harvard at the Bright Hockey Center in Cambridge, Mass. on Saturday night. The Bobcats fall to 17-9-4 overall and 9-5-4 in ECAC Hockey. Harvard improves to 11-11-3 overall and 9-7-2 in ECAC Hockey action.
The goal was Nelson's first since Jan. 6, 2008 against Dartmouth. Dan Henningson (Edmonton, Alb.) picked up his second assist in as many nights to bring his season total to 18 while Jamie Bates (Toronto, Ont.) picked up his 16th assist of the season on the play.
Harvard got on the board first with a goal at the 14:23 mark. The goal, which came on a power play after Quinnipiac's Dan Travis was given a game misconduct penalty, was by Matt McCollem. Brian McCafferty received a pass from behind the Bobcats' net from Jimmy Fraser in front of the right face-off circle in Quinnipiac's defensive zone. McCafferty then passed over to McCollem who was just outside the right face-off cirle. McCollem's shot beat Quinnipiac's Bud Fisher (Peterborough, Ont.) glove-side to give the Crimson a 1-0 lead.
Harvard took a 2-0 lead at the 17:04 mark when Dave Watters' shot ricocheted off of Fisher's right leg pad into the right face-off circle. Pier-Olivier Michaud was waiting for the rebound and converted on his first collegiate goal.
Michaud gave Harvard a 3-0 lead at the 17:17 mark when he redirected a shot by Watters from the left face-off circle. Watters' shot bounced off of Fisher's pad and then a Quinnipiac defenseman before Michaud poked the puck past Fisher to give Harvard a 3-0 lead just before the second period expired.
Harvard took a 4-0 lead at the 7:01 mark of the third period on an empty net goal. After Fisher was pulled from the net for the extra skater, Doug Rogers received a feed from Mike Taylor.
At the 8:55 mark of the third period, Bates won the draw, sending the puck to Nelson. Nelson passed the puck to Henningson who passed it back to Nelson. Nelson's one-timer beat Harvard's Kyle Richter to the goalie's glove-side for Quinnipiac's only goal of the night.
The Bobcats return to action on Friday, Feb. 22 when they host Cornell at 7 p.m. at the TD Banknorth Sports Center. Quinnipiac will then host Colgate on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 12:30 p.m.. That game will celebrate "Senior Day" and will also be televised live on the New England Sports Network (NESN).
