February 8, 2010

Harvard Falls in Beanpot Consolation Game

BOSTON-Tyler McNeely scored twice to lead Northeastern to a 4-1 win against the Harvard men's hockey team in the consolation game of the 58th Beanpot tournament Monday evening at TD Garden.

Ryan Carroll made 30 saves for Harvard (6-14-3) while allowing three goals and Conor Morrison scored his ninth goal of the season. Brian Rawlings stopped 27 shots for the Huskies (13-12-1). Northeastern finished with 34 shots to Harvard's 29 and was 1 for 4 on the power play. The Crimson was scoreless in six man-advantage opportunities.

Northeastern was whistled for consecutive penalties in the first period, leading to 86 seconds of five-on-three play in favor of the Crimson. The Huskies, however, killed the first penalty and followed with a shorthanded goal by McNeely for the game's first goal. Northeastern carried the 1-0 edge into the dressing room and held an 11-8 edge in first-period shots.

Greg Costa doubled the NU lead early in the second period, batting a rebound into the goal after a shot was knocked down in front. Morrison cut the margin to 2-1 at 11:15 of the period. After a clean faceoff win by Louis Leblanc, Chad Morin passed across the point to Ryan Grimshaw. Morrison deflected Grimshaw's one-timer past Rawlings. Harvard outshot Northeastern, 15-9, in the period.

Harvard carried the play early in the third period, registering the first three shots of the frame, but it was again the Huskies getting on the board with a power-play tally. McNeely deflected in a past from Garrett Vermeersch for a 3-1 NU advantage. Wade MacLeod added a late empty-net goal for the final tally. Carroll made 12 saves in the period, including several spectacular ones, as the Huskies held a 14-5 shots advantage in the third.