Jonas, whose hair practically turned white with the dye, rose to the occasion, making 32 saves in the first game. His team, meanwhile, executed the perfect game plan of defense and counter attack in a 2-1 win. However, the defense abandoned Jonas in a 4-0 rout the following night, March 13.
"We took RPI to three games, it was great fun," Allman said. "Oli put in a terrific performance shutting down one of the ECAC's best offensive teams...It was a true team effort."
The deciding match was knotted at two entering the third period, with junior defenseman Matt Scorsune getting the equalizer on a bomb from the point late in the second. Jonas gave his team every chance to win in the last frame, making 10 mostly spectacular saves. But two costly defensive mistakes ended Harvard's season, 4-2.
The season that began with a trip to Lake Placid taken for granted ended with a long, snowy bus ride from Troy. The four seniors on the roster, Clayton Rodgers, Adams, Millar and Storey never experienced a winning year in Cambridge.
Adams especially poured his heart out as the squad's leader, but the team ultimately fell one game short.
"It is a sad feeling taking off your college jersey for the last time," Millar said. "I certainly would have liked to make it back to Lake Placid and to the NCAA tournament, but it wasn't in the cards."
The strong finish though once again creates hope for next season. Both Moore and Bala were severely hampered by injuries--the cast never left Bala's wrist.
Two freshmen--forward Jeff Stonehouse and defenseman Peter Capouch--also distinguished themselves this year. Stonehouse, who has a hard, accurate shot, earned a spot on the top line and became the team's best face-off man.
Capouch, despite his diminutive 5'8, 165-pound frame, proved himself one of the smartest Crimson backliners and notched three goals.
With the talent in place, the team hopes the new head coach can revitalize the program.
Athletic Director William J. Cleary '56 has yet to tip his hand as to possible candidates, but rumors have swirled around U.S. Women's National Coach Ben Smith '68, Princeton Coach Don "Toot" Cahoon, and Union Coach Kevin Sneddon '92.
"Hopefully, last season's second half surge will carry through to next year," Millar said. "With a new coach coming in, everyone is in the same boat. There are no guaranteed spots, and I think that everyone's play will be much hungrier and...with much more intensity and desperation."
This year was supposed to be different. Next year has to be.