The Crimson (14-6) has not won a game out of the ECAC all year, posting a 0-4 mark against non-league opponents. In the two tournaments it has played this year (December's Long Island Classic was the first), Harvard has finished in fourth place both times.
In both tournaments, Harvard was easy pickings. Before the Long Island Classic, the Crimson took a break for Christmas. And in the first round of the Beanpot last Monday, the Crimson had not played in two weeks.
Yesterday, however, the Crimson was coming off a weekend road sweep of Army and Princeton--enough time and practice one would think, to iron out the passes and whip up the shots.
"Don't invite me to the Garden in February," Cleary said. "Invite me in March [for the ECAC Tournament], but not in February. We had the puck the whole second period, and we didn't score. We didn't shoot enough."
Harvard jumped out to a 2-1 lead at the end of the first period on goals by Ted Donato (at 11:19) and Jerry Pawloski (17:53). But the Eagles pulled even with 14 seconds left in the second period on a Bill Nolan shot from just inside the blue line that wiggled through Francis' pads.
"Sometimes, we tried to get a little too fancy," B.C. Coach Len Ceglarski said. "The first two goals were right between the goaltender's legs. That should be reason enough to shoot the thing, but we don't."
Francis smothered an Eagle flurry with two minutes left in the third period. But then it was time for shea to take the puck from the sky and wing it into the Harvard net.
Beanpot II was a frustrating sequel.
THE NOTEBOOK: After snuffing out 12 of 12 power-plays last weekend, the Crimson penalty killers went one-for-three yesterday...Ceglarski praised the play of Crimson defensemen Don Sweeney and Jerry Pawloski, calling them, "The best defensive pair I've seen all year". ...Crimson forward Peter Ciavaglia sat out for a second straight game with back problems. Again, John Murphy took his place on the second line. Eagles, 4-2 at Boston Garden Boston Coll. 1-1-2--4 Harvard 2-0-0--2
First Period--1, BC, Devereaux 9 (Shea, Marshall) 9:42; 2, H, Donato 7 (Murphy) 11:19; 3, Pawloski 2 (Armstrong) 17:53. Penalties--BC, Mullowney (elbowing) 5:41; H, Barringer (tripping) 8:38; BC Pergola (high sticking) 8:45; H, Janfaza (high-sticking) 8:45.
Second Period--4, BC, Nolan 5 (Devereaux, Shea) 19:46. Penalties--BC, Pergola (cross-checking) 16:06; H, Farden (high-sticking) 16:06; H, Pawloski (interference) 17:45.
Third Period--5, BC, Shea 18 (Stapleton, Devereaux) 18:58; 6, BC, Shea 19 (unassisted) 19:24. Penalties--H, Murphy (tripping) 10:07.
Saves--BC, Galuppo 8-7-9--24; H, Francis 10-8-6--24.