In fact, it was the team’s first shutout of the year and Grumet-Morris’ first since last season against Union.
Things went somewhat differently against Cornell. At the first intermission, Grumet-Morris had faced 12 shots, allowing three to slip past.
None of those goals beat Grumet-Morris clean—the definition of a bad goal. Most, in fact, came off rebounds where Big Red forwards beat the Crimson defense to loose pucks.
“A lot of [Cornell’s] goals were right around the net,” Mazzoleni said. ‘They were second-chance opportunities, so you can’t fault your goalie.”
While that is true, if Harvard is to beat the Big Red later in the season it will need a strong performance when the first shot is stopped, and maybe even the second and the third, something Grumet-Morris knows well.
“The key [to stopping second- and third-chance shots] is making sure I’m closing the gap between myself and the attacking forward,” Grumet-Morris said. “If you’re in good position to make the first save and the second save, if necessary, their opportunity to score is so much less.”
Consistent goaltending from Grumet-Morris was the key to the Crimson’s run through the ECAC playoffs last season.
Good goaltending from him has helped Harvard post a 16-8-1 record this season and likely secure a second-place conference finish. But consistent labors and good efforts will not be enough to help the Crimson get by the Big Red this season. If Harvard hopes to replicate or exceed last year’s post-season magic, the key contribution must come from its sophomore goaltender.
Who’s Your Daddy?
Give the Harvard band credit. It showed up in force to counter the Cornell band, which always travels well. Although the band arrived a little late to help those in the crowd that were forced to endure Big Red fight songs for the better part of the pre-game hour, it did bring its wits and relatively G-rated insults.
The classic “safety school” chant was dusted off. And after a Cornell fan insisted on striking a cowbell in time to the Big Red fans’ clapping, the Crimson fans and band gave a hearty “Cow Town” jeer.
Evolving as a response to the totally nonsensical chant of “safety school” by the Cornell fans, the cry of “Hotel Management!” went over nicely.
But by far the highlight of the evening came from the Big Red band in response to its Harvard counterpart. The Cornell band dons white-and-red striped collared shirts for games. In fairly long standing insult, the Crimson band taunted, “Where is Waldo?”
It was answered, at once, by the classic comeback: “With your mom.”
—Staff writer Timothy M. McDonald can be reached at tmcdonal@fas.harvard.edu.