Alex Fallstrom (16) celebrates after Alex Killorn (19) scores Harvard's first goal against Quinnipiac in the photo above. Senior forward Killorn led the Crimson offense with two goals and two assists at the University of North Dakota, while five other Harvard players each netted a goal across the two-day period.

Traveling halfway across the country, the Harvard men’s hockey team (4-4-4, 3-3-2 ECAC) went 0-1-1 against No. 18 University of North Dakota (10-8-2, 7-7 WCHA) in a two-game series to finish out 2011. Senior forward Alex Killorn led the Crimson offense with two goals and two assists, while five other Harvard players each netted a goal across the two-day period.

The Crimson scored first in both games, but UND, who, as of Jan. 1, no longer uses its former mascot—never allowed Harvard to take the lead again after netting goals of its own.

While the first game saw the Crimson, down two goals, rally in the third period to come back and tie, the second contest was a decisive victory by North Dakota.

“It was a good opportunity to play a good team in front of a large crowd,” junior defenseman Danny Biega said. “It’s a tough atmosphere to play in, and although we didn’t win, the team took many positive steps in the right direction.”

NORTH DAKOTA 7, HARVARD 3

The day after a third-period, two-goal comeback to tie, Harvard men’s hockey was unable to come from behind again last night, losing to University of North Dakota, 7-3, and breaking its five-game unbeaten streak.

The Crimson dominated the beginning of the contest. After winning the opening faceoff, Harvard outshot UND, 10-2, before Killorn rocketed a left-handed shot past North Dakota goaltender Aaron Dell. Killorn’s goal came during a power play—Harvard is ranked first in the nation with a 32.1-percent success rate.

But the Crimson’s only lead of the game was short-lived, and a goal by UND’s Brendan O’Donnell tied the game back at two.

Soon after, Killorn was sent to the penalty box for tripping, and North Dakota capitalized on Harvard’s low-ranked power-play defense, scoring a mere five seconds into the power play.

Down, 2-1, freshman forward Mike Seward fought for the puck past the right side of UND’s goal and hit it back towards senior forward Eric Kroshus, who was trailing behind. Kroshus hit a one-timer, but Dell grabbed the puck for the save, and Harvard remained trailing by one.

With less than seven minutes to play in the first period, North Dakota pulled its goalie after a delayed penalty call to add an extra attacker. The move proved to be a smart one when a well placed shot by Danny Kristo gave UND the 3-1 advantage.

Following the goal, Harvard faced a team penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct that put it a man down on the ice. North Dakota stayed patient, passing the puck around the horn until Nick Mattson found Kristo, who redirected the puck into the net.

As the clock ticked the final seconds of the frame, Kroshus brought his team back within two, shooting at close range and allowing his momentum to carry him over Dell and into the goal along with the puck.

The second period did not bode well for the Crimson either. Within the first minute, UND lifted themselves ahead a goal further, and yet another score later in the frame put the scoreboard at 6-2 in favor of North Dakota.

Despite power play opportunities, including a five-minute major penalty on Andrew Panzarella for contact to the head, Harvard failed to score again until the third period when junior forward Luke Greiner put away a cross from freshman defenseman Max Everson.