Box Score

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (2/23/07) – Harvard scored four goals within the final 21:02 of the game to defeat the Colgate men’s hockey team, 4-1, on Friday, Feb. 23, at the Bright Hockey Center. The loss pushes the Raiders’ league record to 7-11-3, while the Crimson clinched a home playoff berth with its ninth ECACHL win of the season. Colgate will make a final push at claiming a home playoff spot of its own when it visits Dartmouth for the regular-season finale on Saturday.

Colgate took a 1-0 lead 5:08 into the first period. Junior Tyler Burton (Langley, B.C.) stripped the puck from a Harvard player at his own blue line and skated in alone on Harvard senior netminder Justin Tobe. Burton’s shot beat Tobe low, far side, giving him his 18^th goal of the year.

Harvard nearly tied it up with 2:15 left in the opening frame. A Raider defenseman turned the puck over in the corner, and a Crimson player got it to freshman Doug Rogers between the hashmarks with no one between him and Colgate junior goaltender Mark Dekanich (North Vancouver, B.C.). Dekanich made a save on Rogers’ shot, but lost track of the rebound. However, sophomore Steve Rolecek, who was waiting on the right side, couldn’t settle the puck quickly enough to get a shot off, and the teams went to their respective lockerrooms with Colgate up 1-0.

With just 1:02 left in the second period, Harvard did tie it up – and took the lead 46 seconds later. The equalizer came after Tobe sent a heads-up pass to freshman Chad Morin, giving him a chance to skate in alone on Dekanich. Morin streaked in on the right side, and flipped the puck into the top left corner of the net.

The Crimson continued its momentum long enough to score the go-ahead goal with 16 seconds left before intermission. Senior Kevin Du skated in on the left side and centered to junior Alex Meintel in the high slot. Meintel’s shot beat Dekanich for his team-leading 13^th goal of the year.

Harvard added an insurance goal at the 6:08 mark of the third period. The Crimson’s top line broke into the zone on a 3-on-2 rush. Senior Ryan Maki passed from center to Meintel on the right wing. Meintel had a clear shot on Dekanich, but the Raider goalie made a blocker save. However, the rebound flew into the air where Du batted it into the open side of the cage.

Harvard’s fourth goal, scored with 4:21 left in the game, was the second of the night by Morin, who beat Dekanich through a screen on the power play. The score proved to be the limit for Dekanich, who was replaced in net by freshman Charles Long (Cleveland, Ohio), who played the remainder of the game in just his fourth appearance of the year.

Dekanich finished the game with 31 saves, while Tobe earned the win after making 22 stops. Long did not face any shots. Harvard outshot Colgate 35-23, including 11-5 in each of the first two periods.

The Raiders will make one last attempt to earn a home playoff berth when they visit Dartmouth on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 7:00 p.m., in the regular-season finale.