CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Union College men's hockey team fell to #9/10 Harvard University, 5-3, Friday night at Bright-Landry Hockey Center.

In the loss, Union falls to 13-16-2 and 7-11-1 in ECAC Hockey play. Harvard moves to 18-6-2 on the season and 15-4-0 in conference play.

In his 100th collegiate game, junior Chaz Smedsrud scored on the powerplay for his fourth goal of the season. Senior Owen Farris and first-year Cal Mell also scored for the visitors. Mell (1-1-2) and fellow first-year John Prokop (0-2-2) each recorded two points on the night. 

The Crimson jumped out to a 1-0 lead 35 seconds into the game. John Farinacci tipped a shot from Ian Moore past senior Connor Murphy. The lead was short-lived as Union found the back of the net a few minutes later on the powerplay. Prokop sent an initial shot from high in the slot and Smedsrud redirected the puck past Harvard netminder Mitchell Gibson.

Harvard netted two goals in a span of 27 seconds to take a 3-1 lead. Harvard drew a powerplay almost halfway through the second period. The Crimson put the pressure on and Sean Farrell found the back of the net after a scramble in front of Murphy. Harvard added another goal at 10:44 of the period after Wyllum Deveaux sent a pass across the slot to Philip Tresca who picked the corner for the score.

Both teams added a pair of goals in the final stanza. Baker Shore scored the eventual game-winner at 2:22 for the period. Farris cut the lead to two a few minutes later. Sophomore Cullen Ferguson fired a shot and Farris redirected it in for his seventh goal of the year. With 2:45 remaining, Union pulled Murphy in favor of the extra attacker. Joe Miller scored an empty net goal 18 seconds later for the 5-2 lead. Shore was called for tripping with 45 seconds left in the game, putting Union on the powerplay. Union pulled Murphy again and capitalized with an extra attacker on the powerplay. Mell took a shot from the top of the right-wing circle that deflected off a Harvard defender and went airborne, landing behind Gibson for the score.

Murphy made 23 saves in the loss and falls to 11-14-1 while Gibson stopped 26 shots to improve to 12-5-2.  

Union is back in action tomorrow at Dartmouth College. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Thompson Arena.