BRIDGEPORT, CT – No. 7/7 Harvard men's ice hockey (24-8-2) saw its season come to a close with an 8-1 loss to No. 8/8 Ohio State (21-15-3) at the NCAA Bridgeport Regional Semifinal at Total Mortgage Arena. Junior forward John Farinacci scored a power play goal for the Crimson.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

Senior Gibson was fantastic early on in the first period, making one of his best stops on a rebound chance, kicking out his left pad with Ohio State bearing down on net.
 
The Buckeyes took a 2-0 lead at 18:24 of the first on a long shot through traffic by Cole Mcward. Gibson was bumped in front on the play and it went to review, but the call on the ice stood, and the Buckeyes took a two-goal lead into the first intermission.
 
Harvard started the second period with a good shift, leading to a chance at the left circle for sophomore Zakary Karpa. But his shot was gloved by Jakub Dobes at :40.
 
Two goals within six seconds early in the second period gave Ohio State control of the game, as Gustaf Westland scored on a net front scramble at 3:44, and then Thiesing scored his second of the game on a backhander at 3:50.
 
The Buckeyes made it 5-0 on tough break in front, with Thiesing redirecting a shot past Gibson with his skate at 8:14. Another goal by the Buckeyes' Joe Dunlap at 15:08 gave Ohio State a six-goal advantage. A Cole Mcward goal at 16:59 made it 7-0 Ohio State at the end of forty minutes.
 
Ohio State added one more from Patrick Guzzo at 1:10 of the third period before Harvard broke through later in the period. Farinacci scored from in close with Harvard on the power play at 16:46 to get the Crimson on the scoreboard.

GAME NOTES 

• Harvard made its 27^th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, and its sixth appearance in the last seven completed seasons for the Crimson.
• Harvard and Ohio State met for the just the second time in program history. The Buckeyes have won both meetings.
• Harvard gave up eight goals in a game for the first time since an 8-2 loss to Dartmouth on Nov. 26, 2010.
• Farinacci scored a power play goal to finish the season with 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 19 games.
• Junior forward Sean Farrell (assist) finished the year with 53 points (20 goals, 33 assists), the second highest point total by a Crimson skater in the last 29 years.
• Senior goaltender Mitchell Gibson (27 saves) and junior goaltender Derek Mullahy (five saves) both saw time in net.