BOSTON, Mass. – Harvard men's ice hockey dropped a 3-2 overtime decision in the Beanpot Semifinal against Northeastern at TD Garden on Monday night.
The first-year duo of forward
Ben MacDonald and defensemen
Matthew Morden accounted for both Harvard goals across all three periods and overtime. Senior goalkeeper
Derek Mullahy tied his single-game career high in saves with 35.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Mullahy orchestrated several solid stops in the first period, logging 14 saves in the first 20 minutes of action. The Scituate, Mass. native was locked in right at puck drop, recording six of his 14 saves in the first five minutes of the game.
Northeastern took an early lead seven minutes into the first period, as Alex Campbell slotted a shot into the bottom right corner of the net, 1-0.
The Crimson started the second period in rhythm, firing off four shots on goal in the opening five minutes of the frame. Harvard leveled the score three minutes into the second period. With the Crimson in the attacking zone, first-year forward
Salvatore Guzzo found classmate MacDonald in front of the blue line. The Weston, Mass. native fired a shot past Northeastern's keeper Cameron Whitehead to tie the score in the Beanpot Semifinal, 1-1.
Moments later, Mullahy produced a critical save to keep the score tied at one each. With the Huskies' Dylan Hryckowian on the breakaway, Mullahy slid up and deflected the shot away. Mullahy finished the second period with seven saves.
With 8:29 on the clock, Harvard earned a penalty shot, as Northeastern's Vinny Borgesi tripped
Ryan Healey in front of goal. Healey took the puck at the red line for the penalty shot, but his attempt was stopped by Whitehead.
Harvard controlled the second period, producing nine shots on goal compared to Northeastern's seven. MacDonald now has four goals in his Crimson career and 11 points.
The start of the third period saw Harvard showcase its resiliency, killing off consecutive Northeastern power plays. Mullahy's play between the sticks was critical in the four-minute stretch, as his acrobatics in the crease led to five saves.
A sensational moment from Morden catapulted Harvard into the lead. With 15:29 left in the contest, Morden corralled a pass from junior defenseman
Jack Bar. Morden capitalized on the space, as the Hamilton, Ontario native fired off a slapshot that found the back of the net, 2-1. The goal is Morden's first career goal with the Crimson.
Northeastern equalized six minutes later, as Justin Hyrckowian leveled the score at two, 2-2.
Neither side could find a winner in the remaining time of the third period, as for a second straight season Harvard's Beanpot Semifinal contest went to overtime.
Northeastern found the winning goal 33 seconds into overtime, as Gunnarwolfe Fontaine was credited with the winner, 3-2.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS:
- First-Years accounted for both of Harvard's goals.
- MacDonald now has four goals and 11 points in his first 21 career games.
- Morden's strike in the third period was his first career goal.
- Mullahy manufactured 35 saves, tying a single-game career high.
- Junior captain Ian Moore led Harvard in blocked shots with four, tying his single-game season high.
UP NEXT:
The Crimson return to Bright-Landry Hockey Center on Friday, Feb. 9, hosting Dartmouth at 7 p.m. Fans can catch all the action on ESPN+. Harvard returns to TD Garden on Monday, Feb. 12 for the Beanpot Consolation Round.
SOCIAL HIGHLIGHTS:
