Harvard's hockey team finally succumbed 3-2 in the second ten-minutes overtime period to a determined but exhausted Boston University squad in last night's first round Beanpot Tournament game at Boston Garden.
The Crimson had rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie the score with less than ten minutes of regulation time remaining, forcing the game into overtime.
The college brand of hockey proved to have more excitement, and at times better play, than the professional hockey usually seen at the Garden. The first game of the evening had its share of suspense, as Boston College scored three goals in the last period to beat Northeastern 7-4, after a Husky rally in the middle frame tied the score.
Second Game a Thriller
But the second game was the real thriller. Harvard pressed through most of the 14 minutes of overtime, several times coming hairs away from a winning goal. Both goalies came up with spectacular saves to prolong the suspense.
The defeat, Harvard's first in nine games, came at the hands of a team which soundly beat powerful Clarkson 4-1 over the weekend. However, the Crimson had beaten the Terriers 4-3 earlier this season.
Solid checking in both ends of the rink earned B.U. a two goal first period lead. Bruce Fennie deflected in Richie Green's long shot for the Terrier's first goal, after Green and A1 Comean completed a series of fancy blue line passes.
With Harvard two men short, the Terriers scored again with just eight seconds left to play, as Bob McCabe knocked Green's rebound into an open net.
B.U. Continues Drive
B.U. Continued its consistent play through most of the second period, forcing Sweitser to use even his face mask to held them scoreless. Harvard finally scrambled its way back into the game at 19:13 when Badly Smith knocked in a loose puck in front of Terrier goalie John Ferreira. Linemates Barry Treadwell and Billy Lamarche assisted.
The Terriers slowed down to play defensively during the third period, but couldn't quite fight off the rallying Crimson. At 11:40, as Harvard played with a man advantage, Lamarche tied the score on assists from Bill Fryer and Smith.
For the rest of regulation time and during the first ten-minute sudden death overtime period, Harvard maintained a terrific pace. B.U. kept up during the third period, but began to tire in the overtime. Only great saves by Ferreira on Treadwell and Bill Fryer kept the Terriers in the game.
Then at 4:34 of the second overtime, B.U. managed to clear the puck, into the Harvard end, and forced it by goalie Sweitzer on a scramble in front of the Harvard net. Lyman Carter was credited with the goal, on assists from Bob McCabe and Vic Conte.
The exhausted smile and wave of Richie Green, who had been on the ice for nearly all the last 30 minutes and who had played brilliantly, pretty well summed up the Terriers' emotions as they skated into their dressing room.
