Moreover, in that final sequence, Harvard had several chances to clear the puck, but just couldn't get enough behind its multiple attempts to send the puck towards the vacated B.C. goal.
The Eagles played with a seasoned confidence after Harvard went up 2-1, a conviction the Crimson would do well to observe carefully on tape and try to imitate.
Of course, this whole debate could be moot if the goal judge had a pair of glasses and counted the shot by junior assistant captain Pete Capouch that clearly went over the line with 13 minutes to go in the first period. It was clear as day to everyone behind the goal that the puck was in the net before squirting back out under B.C. goalie Scott Clemmensen.
But still, Harvard had a 2-1 lead with 42 seconds left and the Eagles won the game. That's the measure of difference between the two teams.
"We are a night-and-day different team from where were last year," Mazzoleni said. "We're not B.C., yet, but we have our sights on them."
Yeah, B.C. is better than Harvard--but just barely. And that's the whole point.
Welcome back, respect.