(13Nov98)  Friday the 13th, Better RED than dead weekend, found the Cornell
Big Red invading Bright Hockey Center and torching the Crimson of Harvard 2-7.
Once Cornell got the lead, they turned it on and won in style.  Harvard had
few responses and looked beaten early on.
 
The match started with flat screen technology from both teams.  It was a rough
and tumble sort of affair that had moments of energy, but in general was slow.
The Crimson opened the scoring with a power play goal from Chris Bala (Steve
Moore, Craig Adams).  Harvard's big line had produced, as Moore provided the
nice feed from behind the net to Bala in the slot for the one-timer.  The
Crimson then took a series of stupid penalties.  The result was a 5 on 3 Big
Red power play goal from Doug Stienstra (Mike Rutter, Jeff Oates).  From a
face-off, Rutter collected the puck on the right wing boards and shot it in
front, and eventually Stienstra punched home the rebound.  With about four
minutes left, Oates (Ryan Moynihan, Kyle Knopp) finished off an innocent
looking rush and gave Cornell the lead.  That Big Red push changed the flow of
the game.  Cornell came alive and spent much of the rest of the period in the
Harvard end, scoring!  Fresher David Kozier (Rutter, David Hovey) made it 1-3
when he banged in a lovely cross-ice feed at the far post from Rutter.  Senior
leader Knopp (Larry Pierce, Moynihan) extended the Big Red margin as Cornell
moved the puck around like they were on one long, exquisite power play.
Cornell was crushing the Crimson.
 
At the start of the second, Harvard sophomore goalie Oliver Jonas came in for
JR Prestifilippo (who could have sued his team for lack of support).  The
Crimson players were giving it their all, but putting tons of energy into a
dead system is not going to make it work.  Big Red's Kozier (Knopp, Jeff
Burgoyne) made it 1-5 when his power play point pass/shot went through a maze
of players and found net.  Cornell was getting some excellent movement on the
player advantage.  During a 4 on 3 power play, Rutter (Pierce) gunned his
chance from the high slot after a nice set from Pierce.  Cornell closed out
its scoring when Kozier got his hat trick after a Harvard miscue right in
front of net.
 
With the home crowd thinning, the final frame droned on.  First-year defender
Peter Capouch (S Moore) nailed a shorthanded marker on a quick 1-2 break to
make the final 2-7.  Harvard tried to continue that late rally, but Cornell
closed the game out.
 
Cornell looks awfully good once they get the lead.  They play their
traditional, conservative game, but once they get ahead, look out.  They have
the wheel and passing to make life miserable for any team.  Ian Burt looked
good in net.  He stood his ground and was very good at covering up any loose
half-chances.  I enjoyed watching the fluid and dynamic Pierce.  He seems to
make his team click from his blue line position.  Burgoyne also provided
steady defensive coverage that wasn't fancy, but effective.  Up front the line
of Rutter, Hovey and Kozier was marvelous.  They move well as a unit and with
the fabulous Rutter laying on the lovely passes Kozier and company are left to
be quality snipers.  The big line of Knopp, Moynihan and Oates also produced
their share of the thunder.  The Moynihan and Knopp combo constructs some
interesting patterns on the ice.  The man of the match was Knopp.  He moves!
Knopp gives Big Red another dimension and is a deadly weapon.  Overall,
Cornell has Harvard's number.
 
The Harvard game plan is almost as inept as the Harvard Ticket Office.  I
couldn't help thinking how spot on Luiz's comments on Hockey-L were.  The
coaches can not adapt to match situations.  Everything has to go just right
for the Crimson, or forget it.  On the brighter side, fresher Jared Cantanucci
can really burn.  He made a couple of spectacular rushes.  Image what he could
do with a real attacking shape!  Bala, S Moore and Adams had some good
moments.  They certainly put together some strong attacking moments on the Big
Red goal.  On the blue line, Graham Morrell dug back well to protect his net.
Morrell plays with a feisty attitude, and as long as he stays positive, he
will remain one of the top Crimson defenders.  The slick passing of first-year
defender Peter Capouch was extremely impressive.  While the Harvard power play
is loathsome, Capouch's passes from the point were inspired.  He also is very
smart in his coverage at the back.  Overall, it looks like a long season for
the coaches.
 
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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