Eddie Ellis scored his first collegiate goal in the third period Friday (Gil Talbot).

ITHACA, N.Y. – The fourth-ranked Harvard men's hockey team (11-4-2, 7-3-2 ECAC) was tied with Cornell (8-8-2, 6-5-0 ECAC) heading into the last minute of play Friday evening at a sold-out Lynah Rink, but Eric Freschi scored with just 40.5 left in regulation to give the Big Red a 3-2 victory.

The tone was set early that the Ivy League clash would be a physical affair, as the squads traded hard hits from puck drop until the horn for the first intermission sounded. Cornell had the game's first quality scoring opportunity, as a neutral zone turnover led to a 3-on-1 that Harvard goaltender Steve Michalek stoned with a quick shift from his left to right, blocking the shot with his chest protector.

Jimmy Vesey had Harvard's first scoring chance, streaking through the slot, but Mitch Gillam reached out and deflected the puck away at the last second. Phil Zielonka also had a late scoring chance when Kyle Criscuolo found him next to the right post, but Gillam once again made the save for Cornell.

The excitement carried over into the second period, but this time in the form of goals for each team. Harvard struck first when Jimmy Vesey potted his 15th of the season off a rebound from a Wiley Sherman shot. Sherman picked up his first collegiate point with the assist, while Criscuolo recorded his 14th helper as the second assist.

Cornell responded though, scoring twice over the next 4:23. Cole Bardreau scored the equalizer at 4:28 when Jake Weidner put a pass from the left point directly on his tape and he sent the puck top shelf on a wrister. Just under two minutes later, Christian Hilbrich gave the Big Red its first lead, flipping a backhand in the back of the net. Dwyer Tchantz and Ryan Bliss earned the assists. The Big Red offense would continue to keep the pressure on throughout the remainder of the period, including going on the power play three times, but Michalek came up with seven saves on the penalty kill to keep the Crimson within one, 2-1, at the second intermission.

Harvard's offense came out with a renewed urgency in the third period and it paid off with the game-tying goal at 6:26. The Crimson cycled the puck through the Cornell zone, eventually setting up Victor Newell for a shot from the blue line. His first attempt was blocked away, but Harvard again worked the puck behind the net and back out to Newell at the left point where he fired another shot towards the net, finding the stick of Eddie Ellis for the deflection past Gillam. The goal was Ellis' first at Harvard and his second point this season.

The Crimson and Big Red looked destined for overtime as the final minutes of the period passed, but Cornell's Eric Freschi scored near post from the left face-off dot with just 40.5 remaining on the clock to give the home team a 3-2 lead. Cornell withstood the Crimson's 6-on-5 attempt and held on for the 3-2 victory.

Harvard is back on the ice tomorrow night, taking on the No. 15/13 Colgate Raiders at 7 p.m. at Starr Rink.