Few teams have a harder out-of-conference schedule than Harvard. In addition to the standard Beanpot fare of Boston University, now-No. 2 Boston College and Northeastern, he added No. 6 New Hampshire and made sure the Christmas trip would be tough.
The losses may be disheartening now, but Harvard definitely improved as it skated through the gauntlet. Union won't seem nearly so bad when it strolls into Bright tonight.
"People got a little excited when we cracked the rankings," Mazzoleni said. "We're not there yet, but we competed with a top-five team. Is Colorado better than us? Yes. But is the difference that great? No."
If Harvard closes the gap further during the second half of the season, it won't be flying up any more mountains. It will already be on top.