TROY, N.Y.--Just three days before its Beanpot showdown with Boston University, the Harvard men's hockey team went into its game against Rensselaer last night at Houston Field House looking for an impressive road victory.
It didn't get it.
Instead, the second-ranked Crimson (14-2-1, 13-1-1 ECAC) suffered its first league loss of the season, 6-3, to the ninth-ranked Engineers, (12-5-4, 9-3-1 ECAC).
After shooting to an early 3-0 lead in the second period, Harvard watched as RPI scored six unan swered goals in a comeback that will most definitely find its place in RPI hockey lore.
Despite the return of sophomore Steve Martins, Harvard couldn't convert on any of its seven power plays and suffered a devastating second and third period collapse that ruined freshman netminder Tripp Tracy's 8-0 record and snapped the Crimson's 10-game winning streak.
"It was a tough loss," Harvard Coach Ronn Tomassoni said. "We had our chances, but they're a good team and we gave up the puck in out zone at critical times. They were just very opportunistic."
RPI junior Jeff Gabriel had two goals and one assist in the game, scoring the first Engineer goal at 8:13 in the second period and the Engineer's fifth tally at 18:52 of the third.
But the score that hurt Harvard most came 12:35 into the third period when RPI sophomore Eric Petards knocked in the rebound of a Gabriel shot to gave RPI the lead, 4-3.
A penalty on Engineer freshman Brian Richardson about 20 seconds later gave the Crimson hope, but Harvard squandered this opportunity as it did the five before it.
Still, with about 1:30 to play, Harvard got one last golden opportunity to tie the game when senior Steve Homenhoft had a good luck at the net. But his backhand just couldn't find the back of the net.
"Steve had the chance, but his backhander just came up short," Tomassoni said. "You want to win them all, but one loss isn't going to step these guys."
The Crimson has been able to fight off comebacks all season long, but last night Harvard succumbed to an RPI surge that smoldered in the second period and exploded in the final stanza.
And if weren't for the gutsy performance of Tracy (27 saves), Harvard would have been in a bigger hole coming out of the second period.
"We sit on our leads, and we can't do that," senior Matt Mallgrave said. "We took too many penalties and we didn't have that killer instinct. We can beat a team like that, but we need the killer instinct."
In the beginning, the game looked to be another easy Harvard victory.
Martins made his presence on the ice clear 6:24 into the contest when he knocked home a rebound for the first score of the game and his season.
The Crimson held onto its lead for the whole period, despite some sloppy defensive play that gave RPI several good chances to tie the score.
In the second period, Harvard looked like it was putting on a passing clinic as freshman Kirk Nielsen sliced the RPI defense wide open with a pass that left sophomore Ben Coughlin staring at an open net.
Harvard's third goal came much the same way: Mallgrave set up Flomenhoft two minutes later to give the Crimson a 3-0 lead.
But Harvard's sloppy defense caught up with the Crimson, allowing RPI to get right back in the game.
"We played a good game, but I feel disappointed in myself," Tracy said. "Their third period goals were pretty good, but I still fault myself."
Tracy and Tomassoni both said, however, that this defeat would not hurt the Crimson chances on Monday night.
"I think our team thrives on coming back from a loss like this," Tracy said. "We'll have a good showing in the Beanpot." First Period Har--Martina (Holmes, McLauglin), 6:24 Second Period Har--Coughlin (Nielson, Body), 4 14 Har--Flomenhoft (Maligrave, Holmes), 5.58 RPI--Gabriel (Layzell, Pirrong), 8:13 (Power Play) RPI--Regan (Hamelin, Cathbert) 16.04 Third Period RPI--Pasco (Richardson, Hamelin), 11 13 RPI--Perach (Gabnel, Bartel), 12:35 RPI--Gabriel (Regan), 18:52 (PP) RPI--Pasco (Askew), 19:47 (Open Net) Seveat Har--Tracy 9 14 4 27, RPI--Little 8-10-10-28
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