Probably the best way to describe this game is INTENSE!!  The moment the puck
was dropped it became apparent to everyone at Houston that this was going to
be a fast, action-packed match, and the teams didn't disappoint as RPI fought
back from a 3-0 deficit midway through the second and scored 6 unanswered goals
to knock off #2 Harvard.
 
The first period was very action packed but didn't contain very many goals.
Harvard came out strong and managed to keep the puck in the RPI defensive zone
for most of the period.  As usual, RPI managed to get a penalty early as one
of the guys hooked a Harvard player who was trying to get the puck near the
halfboards.  It was a very obvious penalty as both referee's put their arms up
for the call.  But as has been the case all year, the penalty killing unit of
RPI was fantastic and killed off that penalty as well as one that followed
shortly thereafter.  Then it was Harvard's turn to take penalties and RPI
struggled to get many shots on net.  The power play has not been one of RPI's
strong points and that may be in part due to the impatient fans who start
calling for a shot 5 seconds into the power play while RPI is just barely
setting up.
 
Harvard finally managed to get on the board just after the halfway point in
the period.  The goal was a beauty.  Someone took a shot from the high slot
that Neil Little stopped.  But the rebound popped out to Neil's right onto a
Harvard stick.  Whoever it was (sorry, but I don't keep track too much of who
scored what goal) pulled it back and put up and past Little who was sprawled
on the ice.
 
The penalties in the first period were very fair for all of you who are
concerned about how the officials did.  I was afraid it was going to be a
rather poorly called game since Noeth and Melanson were out there (for all of
you who remember, Melanson did the last RPI/Harvard game and did the WORST job
I've ever seen from an official).  But things went smoothly and the penalties
were fairly even, as they deserved to be.  I have to admit that both refs did
miss a rather blatant check on the Harvard goalie Trip Tracy by RPI's Ronnie
Pasco (Kenny, I still don't think it was a check but everyone else thinks so)
that had the Harvard coach SCREAMING at the refs.  In fact, he and Noeth were
discussing the situation while play was going on.  The reason I mention this
is due a call that Melanson made later which I'll get to shortly.
 
The second period didn't start out as well as the first one.  For whatever
reason, RPI seemed to be a bit sluggish and it was apparent to Harvard who took
advantage and scored 2 goals between the five and ten minute marks.  At this
point I thought the game was going to be a repeat of the earlier encounter that
took place out at Harvard in the fall.  The second Harvard goal came as RPI's
defense broke down and allowed a semi 2-1.  Neil Little came well out the net
as he always does but the Harvard winger played him perfectly and passed the
puck to a teammate who was breaking down the slot.  One of the RPI players
tried to hook the stick of the Harvard guy but couldn't manage to and the puck
went untouched into the empty net.  The third goal came shortly after and I
don't know how it went in.  I know that it was shot from the bottom of the left
wing circle and somehow Little didn't get all the way down on the ice and
allowed the puck to slide underneath him.
 
But RPI wasn't about to be snubbed again.  Instead of feeling down and out,
the team appeared to settle down and get to work.  Of course, they got help
from Harvard who took some pretty stupid penalties.  The first one allowed
RPI to control the puck in the Harvard zone.  They got off several shots and
on one of them they might have scored if one of the Harvard players hadn't
shoved an RPI player into the net.  What ensued was an extremely long delayed
penalty situation.  With Harvard already shorthanded, RPI pulled their goalie
and managed to get two or three shots on goal.  Everytime the puck caromed off
the goalie, though, it would go directly to an RPI stick.  Finally, the puck
was passed out to the point where one of the point men took a low hard
slapshot that Jeff Gabriel deflected in front past Trip Tracy.  The crowd
erupted into a wild roar.  But RPI wasn't finished yet.  A few minutes later
RPI dumped the puck and began a line change.  Two Harvard players got a bit
confused in the right wing circle and in an attempt to pass up ice they
misfired an allowed an RPI player to get the puck and shoot towards the
front of the net.  Trip Tracy handled the first pass/shot but the rebound
was deflected to his right and into the middle of the crease where Tim Regan,
who had skated off the bench, along the blue line, down the left wing, and
cut across the goalmouth, was in perfect position to bat it in.
 
That was all for scoring in the second, but RPI's confidence was clearly on
the upswing.  The third period was the most intense.  It took about five
minutes for RPI to even things up.   I didn't really see the third goal, but
I believe it was Jeff Gabriel who evened things up.  I know that it occured
on a loose puck in front that Gabriel managed to poke in.  The next goal was
the clincher, however.  Harvard was on the power play and as it expired the
puck was in the Harvard zone.  One of the Harvard players saw an RPI guy
attacking him so he tried to clear the puck up the slot.  Unfortunately for
him, he put it right into Tim Regan's chest as he came out of the box and
across the blueline (the other one this time).  Regan took the puck, skated
down the right side and passed in front to a wide open ?? (sorry, I don't
remember) who put it past Tracy's outstretched leg.  THE CROWD WENT WILD!!
 
Harvard nearly had an opportunity to try and come back when Melanson called
an RPI player for tripping Trip Tracy.  Sorry folks, but this was DEFINITELY
not a trip.  Tracy came out of his net and as he was going back he tripped
over a leg that belonged to an RPI skater and fell to the ice.  But Harvard
made a really stupid mistake.  About :45 seconds into that penalty one of the
Harvard players was called for roughing, thus allowing RPI to have a power
play right down to the last :15 of the game.  Harvard pulled Tracy but since
they had a man in the box it was fairly simple for Brian Richardson to direct
the puck down ice and into the net.  Actually, it wasn't all that simple since
the puck had to go nearly the whole length of the ice.
 
Summary:
 
RPI is starting to come into their own.  They seem to have molded well as a
team and they showed last night that they are able to fight back in even the
most adverse situations.
 
Trip Tracy is an excellent goalie.  But he's too much like Ron Hextall.  As
someone already mentioned, he gets too upset over no calls and he comes out
of the net a bit too much.  One time he even raised his arms for a call as play
was occuring in the corner to his left!!
 
Harvard is still a great team, but RPI showed them last night that they are to
be taken seriously also.  I can't wait for the ECAC's!!  I expect to see RPI
there.
 
Finally, I have to say that the reffing was surprisingly good.  Noeth and
Melanson (with the exception of that one trip call) redeemed themselves for
the most part.  Noeth still can't skate :-) but at least he is learning how
to ref.
 
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Daniel Orchard-Hays        Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute             '95
"Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin."
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