“The line with Jimmy Vesey, Brian Hart and Colin Blackwell always brings a lot of energy,” Fallstrom said. “I thought they were good tonight.

The goal gave Harvard new life, but only momentarily.

Union’s Matt Wilkins responded to Harvard’s strike less than three minutes later. A failed Crimson clear was intercepted by Bodie, who fed the puck to Wilkins for a long-range wrister that sailed past a screened Girard.

Harvard coach Ted Donato ‘91 pulled Girard for an extra attacker with less than two minutes left, but the move failed to spark a Crimson comeback. The Dutchmen added an insurance marker on an empty-net goal from Daniel Carr with 18 seconds left.

Tensions flared late in the game as officials issued Vesey a ten-minute game misconduct for a hit after the empty-netter. Freshman Union forward David Roy was sent to the box with two seconds remaining in the game for a slash.

The Crimson now sits on the 12th and last rung of the ECAC ladder as it prepares to host 11th-place St. Lawrence and 8th-place Clarkson this weekend. Ten more conference games remain on Harvard’s schedule.

“We went out and competed really hard,” Fallstrom said. “The puck just didn’t bounce our way today. We’re just going to have to reload and get back at it on Friday.”

—Staff writer Michael D. Ledecky can be reached at mledecky@college.harvard.edu.