Harvard Edges Brown on Senior Night

Photo by DSPics.com

Box Score

CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Junior Jimmy Fraser scored to break a third-period tie and send the Harvard men's hockey team to a 2-1 win against Brown Saturday on Senior Night at Bright Hockey Center.

Freshman Matt McCollem also scored for Harvard, which moved into third place with the win. The Crimson limited Brown to 17 shots on goal while notching 36 of its own to force 34 saves by Brown goalie Dan Rosen. The victory was Harvard's fifth straight in league play and its sixth in the last seven games overall.

Fraser, who had a penalty shot stopped in the second period, used a great move to make his own second chance to put the Crimson (13-11-3, 11-7-2 ECAC Hockey, 6-2-1 Ivy League) on top in the opening minute of the third period. Senior David MacDonald broke the puck out to Michael Del Mauro. The freshman pushed it ahead to a streaking Fraser, who dragged the puck through a defender and past Rosen before depositing it in the net with his backhand.

The Crimson used lockdown defense the rest of the way, allowing Brown (5-18-4, 5-12-3, 3-7-0) just two shots on net in the third period. Sophomore Kyle Richter made 16 saves in the game.

Following the game, a ceremony honored seniors Paul Dufault, Chris Kelley, David MacDonald, Tyler Magura, J.D. McCabe, Alex Meintel, Jon Pelle, Mike Taylor and Dave Watters and their parents. It was the Class of 2008's final regular-season home game.

The forward line of McCollem, Taylor and sophomore Doug Rogers continued its scoring tear early on. Taylor took a pass from Rogers, entered the offensive zone on the left side and put a hard shot on Rosen. Rogers could not get to the rebound, but a trailing McCollem finished off the play for his fourth goal in six games. He scored a point for the sixth straight game, and Taylor extended his point streak to seven games.

Brown tied the game with a power play goal in the final two minutes of the period. Standing at the left point, Sean Hurley took a pass from Ryan Garbutt in the right corner. Hurley's shot looked to be headed wide, but Jeff Prough deflected it in to make it 1-1. The Bears had a 10-9 edge in first period shots.

Harvard outshot Brown, 19-5, in the second period but could not get any past Rosen. Brown's Eric Slais took down Fraser on a breakaway, setting up a penalty shot, Harvard's first of the season. Fraser skated down toward the left post, moved toward the middle and shot low, but Rosen made the save to keep the game tied.

Eight of Harvard's 19 second-period shots came on three power-play chances. On the last one, Rosen stopped shots by Rogers from the bottom of the left circle and Michael Biega from around the right faceoff dot.

The Crimson concludes the regular season next weekend. Harvard visits Colgate Friday and Cornell Saturday.