CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Union's comeback, which included two goals with less than 31 seconds remaining, fell short as Harvard defeated the 16th-ranked Dutchmen, 4-3, on Saturday night at the Bright Hockey Center. The two teams battled in front of 2,056 spectators, including many members of the Union nation. The loss moved the Dutchmen (16-8-6) to a two-way tie with Cornell for second place in ECAC Hockey with a 10-4-4 record (22 pts.). The Crimson (7-15-3) improves to 7-9-3 in league action as it continues its battle for a top-four finish.
Senior forward
Mario Valery-Trabucco began Union's comeback with his 17th goal of the season. The power-play tally came with 5:33 remaining in the game from junior
Adam Presizniuk and sophomore
Kelly Zajac.
Senior
Mike Schreiber followed with back-to-back goals. His first was a blind shot from the point that found the twine with 31 seconds remaining. He then scored on the doorstep with 3.4 seconds on the clock.
Freshman
Wayne Simpson and junior
John Simpson earned the helpers on Schreiber's first goal, while senior
Jason Walters and Trabucco had the assists on his second.
The Dutchmen found themselves trailing heading into the the third period for the second straight night. Freshman Alex Fallstrom got Harvard on the board at 1:41 of the first after his shot sailed through the crease. He grabbed the loose puck on the right halfwall and snuck it between the pads of Milan.
Freshman David Valek cashed in at 6:57 on a rebound off a junior Pier-Olivier Michaud breakaway and sophomore Alex Killorn made it 3-0 with a wrister in the slot at 14:50.
Union's attempt to answer was denied by both the iron and Richter. With a man advantage with about 2:30 remaining in the period, Trabucco struck the left post on a one-timer from senior Walters. Richter fought off four shots during the two minutes, but another Harvard penalty put the Dutchmen back on the power-play with 27 ticks remaining. Again Harvard and Richter kept Union off the board.
Killorn stuck again with a one-timer at 10:35 while on the power-play to make it 4-0. He finished the game with two goals and an assist moving his point total to 20 points on the season.
For the second time this season the Crimson were led by stellar play by its netminder. On Jan. 21, Ryan Carroll turned away 47 shots, giving Union its first ECACH loss of the season. On Saturday night, it was Kyle Richter leading Harvard to the win with 30 saves.
The Dutchmen wrap up their regular-season home schedule with games against Princeton on Friday, Feb. 19 and against Quinnipiac on Saturday, Feb. 20. Friday's contest will be "Whiteout Night", while Saturday's outing is "Senior Night." Tickets to both games can be purchased at
UnionAthleticsTickets.com
