Harvard Claims Win Over Bears

PROVIDENCE, RI - The Brown men's hockey team (7-13-2, 5-8-2) spotted Harvard (6-12-3, 6-6-3) a 2-0 lead in the opening 11 minutes and could never recover, as the Crimson went on to win, 5-2, in an ECAC and Ivy League game Friday evening at Meehan Auditorium. 

Things did not start well for the Bears, who conceded a pair of special teams goals about two minutes apart in the opening period. The Crimson got on the board at 9:04, scoring just six seconds after a Brown penalty created a four-on-four situation. After Alex Biega's shot from the left point went wide of the net, Doug Rogers picked up the rebound at the goal-line extended and back-handed the puck towards the net where it deflected in off the back of sophomore Mike Clemente's (Great Falls, VA) right skate. 

Just 2:08 later, and with Harvard on a power play, Alex Biega fired the puck from the left point through traffic in front and past Clemente for the 2-0 lead. 

The Bears got one back at 14:31 when sophomore Jeff Buvinow (Turnersville, NJ) connected on a Brown power play. With Bruno enjoying a five-minute man-advantage due to a hitting from behind call on Harvard's Chris Huxley, Buvinow worked with junior Jesse Fratkin (Burnaby, BC) to inch closer to the net. From the top of the right face-off circle, Fratkin saw an opening and skated towards the net. Instead of shooting, he dropped the puck for Buvinow in the slot and he one-timed the puck past John Carroll.

With 1:21 left on the power play, Harvard was whistled for another penalty, but the Bears were unable to tie the game, despite close chances for Fratkin and senior Aaron Volpatti (Revelstoke, BC). 

Harvard increased its lead to 3-1 just 2:33 into the second period, scoring 12 seconds after their third power play had expired. Chad Morin fired a shot from the center of the blueline that was tipped in front by Sam Bozoian and past Clemente. 

Following the goal, freshman Anthony Borelli (Grand Island, NY) replaced Clemente in the Brown net. 

Freshman Francis Drolet (Lachine, QUE) made it a one-goal game for the third time of the night, scoring on a wrap-around with 5:04 remaining in the second period. Senior Sean McMonagle (Oakville, ONT) and sophomore Jarred Smith (Pepper Pike, OH) each earned assists on the goal. 

The Bears opened the final period with 2:46 remaining on another five-minute power play, after Danny Biega left the game due to another hitting from behind call at 17:46 of the second. However, just 1:10 in Brown took a penalty to even things up. After another penalty on the Bears, at the 3:30 mark of the period, Harvard's Louis Leblanc pushed the puck into a partially open net, after Borelli failed to control the rebound on an initial save just 35 into the man-advantage. 

With the score still 4-2 in favor of the Crimson, Harvard would go on a five-minute power play of its own with 3:45 remaining, essentially ending Brown's chances of a come-back. 

The Bears evened things up on the ice, pulling Borelli with 1:14 remaining and an offensive zone faceoff, but Brown could get no closer in the waning minutes, and Doug Rogers added an empty net goal with 17.5 seconds remaining to seal the victory.  

Clemente finished with nine saves, while Borelli made 21. Carroll stopped 27 for Harvard. The Bears return to action tomorrow afternoon when they host Dartmouth in a 4:00 p.m. game. Fans are encouraged to wear white for the Winter Whiteout.