(13Jan99)  Wednesday evening, as light snow fell on Bright Hockey Center,
the Harvard Crimson defeated the Eagles of Boston College 3-1.  BC played
an excellent second period of high tempo hockey, but wasted much of the
rest of the match.  Harvard used its defensive style and got a number of
key saves from J.R. Prestifilippo, along with a few opportunistic scores
to win the crosstown derby.
 
Harvard came out with its big fore-checking game and created a number of
turnovers in the Boston College zone.  Trevor Allman (Leif Ericson, Scott
Turco) got credit for an early Crimson goal when a point shot bounced
around the crease, off a skate and into the net.  After that initial
flurry, the rest of the period featured some Eagle pressure in the Harvard
end, and lighter fore-checking from the Crimson.  Neither team was
clicking.  BC tied the contest at one when Mike Lephart (Blake
Bellefeuille) knocked home a power play goal.  The play started as a shot
from one side of the net, and the rebound on the other side found the
goal.
 
In the second, BC surged forward.  They took it up a couple of gears and
dusted Harvard.  In fact the middle interval seemed like one long power
play for Boston College.  If it hadn't been for some Prestoesque saves,
Harvard would have been toast.  As it turned out, for all the sustained
pressure Eagles applied, the attacking shape did not produce that many
crunching chances.  The killer pass was always off the tape and the result
was not as good a try, and no goals.  Meanwhile Harvard hung in there and
in the last minute got a power play goal from Craig Adams (Ben Storey, Rob
Millar).  Adams went on a solo end-to-end rush and made a clinical finish:
2-1 Harvard.
 
In the final frame, the game was pedestrian.  It also got into push and
shove tactics.  There was some good up and down play, and many penalties.
About half way through, Millar (Adams) took a long ball feed from Adams,
went in all alone, pulled the BC goalie left and tucked right.  Lovely
goal.  I wondered at the time if it was the killer goal, and indeed, it
was.  Boston College put on the pressure, but Harvard was able to close it
out.
 
BC needs to play as it did in the second period more of the time.  They
have the skills and more importantly the speed to dust most of the teams
they face.  As it was, they often got caught up in the silly side of the
game, which is a true waste.  The Eagles also need to work on their
attacking shape.  The passes aren't on the money.  The free forward is
usually not picked out with the telling pass.  The thing that was hurting
BC the most last night was the horrid off the puck movement.  There was
too much standing around or following the puck.  With all their quickness,
Boston College could do much better.  I was very impressed with the slick
moves and twists of defender Marty Hughes.  He is a very effective blue
liner and pulls off some amazing plays.  Mike Mottau was easily the most
intense player for BC.  He was sharp and moved the puck exceptionally
well.  What can I say about Brian Gionta?  He has a wonderful set of
wheels and the smarts to use them.  It is fun watching the little guy go
into the corners with the giants and come out with the puck.  The BC man
of the match was the line of Chris Masters, Jeff Farkas and Mike Lephart.
They motor well together and were the best looking line.  Lephart was on
song and was great at holding onto the puck and waiting to see who got
open.  Overall, I think long ball and going wide would make things much
easier for BC.
 
The Crimson was patient.  They took their chances well.  Playing against a
big team is what this Harvard team is suited for.  They can be the
underdog, soak up the punishment and then hit back.  The Adams-Millar
combo had a fabulous outing.  They saw the openings and they went for it!
The pace and understanding those two provided was fantastic.  The line of
Chris Bala, Brett Chodorow and Steve Moore at times played with refined
movement.  Bala's mobility with the puck is lovely to see.  On the blue
line, Storey came through with a solid job.  He played tough defense and
kept his head up throughout the tense moments.  Fresher defender Ericson
plays smart.  He uses his talented stick well.  The man of the match was
Prestifilippo.  He may half a dozen saves that were key for the Harvard
victory.  Presto faces the shooter well, and always seems to get something
in the way of the oncoming puck.  Overall, a big triumph for the Crimson
as they head into exams.
 
 
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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