Friday night's match at Bright Hockey Center was an evenly played
affair.  At times one team would look like they were going to take
control of the game, and then the other would get back into it.  In
the end, a draw seemed a fair result.
 
The Crimson opened the scoring in the first period when Matt Mallgrave
(Derek Maguire, Brian Farrell) tipped in a shot from the right point,
while on the power play.  In the second period, the Golden Knights
tied up the match when Patrice Robitaille (Guy Sanderson, Chris de
Ruiter) knocked home a rebound off a pileup in front of the net.
Clarkson took the lead on a power play goal when Marko Tuomainen's (Ed
Henrich, Todd Marchant) centering pass from the corner deflected in
off goalie Tripp Tracy.
 
In the third period, Harvard managed to tie the game, when Jason
Karmanos (Cory Gustafson, Perry Cohagan) shot it home, after a super
effort by Gustafson.  His digging in the corners and behind the net
resulted in a lovely centering pass.  Harvard regained the lead when
Maguire (Farrell, Ted Drury) scored a power play goal off a blast
from the blue line that beat Chris Rogles high to the glove side.
Clarkson tied the game when Hugo Belanger (Marchant) put in a similar
drive to the high stick side of Tracy.  The Knights took the lead
on a power play goal when Robitaille (Tuomainen, Henrich) finished
off a nice 1-2-3 passing play, with the easy put in.  Harvard looked
set for a loss, until Drury (Maguire) took a spectacular break-in pass
from Maguire, went in all alone, deked left, and tucked it in low
right.  In overtime there was no scoring.
 
I thought Clarkson could have won this match.  Their mistake was
letting Harvard back in the game, by taking penalties for rough play.
If they had attacked a little more, I believe they would have won
this contest.  I was most impressed with the smart and stylish play
of defender Brian Mueller.  He seemed to always be in the right place.
His efforts on rushes were also very positive.  On offense, I liked
Marko Tuomainen.  It looks to me, that if he gets dug into a game,
he can be a force.
 
Harvard's play continued on somewhat of a slide.  I feel the line com-
binations are confused.  The skill players are having to dig it out of
the corners, and back-check.  Meanwhile, the muckers are just drift-
ing.  I thought Cory Gustafson played a wonderful match.  He made play
after play for his teammates.  Lou Body had a solid game at defense.
He stood up and read the play well at his blue line.  However for me,
Derek Maguire was Harvard's man of the match.  Not only does he play
a strong defensive game, he is much of Harvard's offense right now.
His crisp, intelligent passes are the only reason the Crimson was
able to tie up this game.
 
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 good shooting
 rhun
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