For the second consecutive night, the Crimson and host Nanooks played a
tight game before Harvard erupted in the third period to blow the game
open for a 9-2 victory.  As has been the case for UAF against Maine and
Michigan State, 40 minutes of solid hockey are not enough against this
year's tough schedule.  At 5-12-1, UAF finds itself in a *big* hole facing
Colorado College next weekend in Fairbanks.
 
Crimson forward Brad Konik opened the scoring 16:16 into period one,
beating Nanook goalie Brian Fish low and away.  Harvard had just finished
killing off a UAF 2-man advantage as Bryan Lonsinger and Ben Couglin were
whistled for minors at the 13:38 mark.  Sloppy passing on the power play,
a Nanook trademark this season, combined with a few solid post shots to
make life miserable for UAF.  Nonetheless, freshman Forrest Gore, younger
brother of UAA's Cotton Gore, netted his first collegiate goal with 2:27
remaining, slapping a shot high over Harvard goalie Tripp Tracy's
outstretched glove.  (It was interesting to note that both Tracy and Fish
wear right catch gloves...)
 
The second period was played much like the first, with UAF controlling the
puck most of the time, yet never seeming to mount a consistent attack.
Harvard's power play chances were often cut short by ill-advised penalties
in their offensive zone.  At the 5:22 mark, Brad Konik received a major
penalty for checking from behind, while UAF sent Eon MacFarlane to the box
for cross checking.  Harvard used the 4 on 4 situation to show some speed,
as Henry Higdon followed up a Cory Gustafson rebound to give the Crimson a
2-1 lead seven minutes into the period.  Shots on goal
through the first two periods showed Harvard leading UAF by a 25-19 count.
 
It was the Nanooks who struck first in the third, as Corey Spring pounced
on a Greg Milles rebound about 20 feet in front of Tracy.  Spring skated
in alone and then deked hard to his right, causing Tracy to dive out of
position, setting up an easy backhander to tie the score 1:09 into the
period.  Exactly six minutes later, all hell broke loose as the Crimson
reeled off an incredible 7 goals in twelve minutes, causing most of the
3,800 fans to flee the Carlson Center in disgust.
 
Being a glutton for punishment, I stayed for the remainder of the game, at
least enjoying some nifty skating by Martins and company as well as a hat
trick from Jeremiah McCarthy, who kept showing up in front of the Nanook
net at just the right time.  All seven goals looked surprisingly alike, as
the UAF defense repeatedly collapsed in front of Fish, allowing Harvard's
point men to skate in close and rifle shots in on the dazed Nanook
netminder.  To his credit, Fish played an outstanding game considering his
lack of defensive support.  The goal which broke the game open, the
Crimson's fourth, was deflected into the net off the leg of UAF's Derek
Norton, at which point Fish seemed to give up completely.
 
 
Harvard is definitely a good open-ice team, with lots of speed and good
breakaway puckhandlers.  However, they do not set up well in the offensive
zone, often mishandling passes or allowing the defense to outwork them for
loose pucks in the corners.  I would be interested to hear from those
who've followed the team this year to see if you share this perspective.
Also, what's with Tripp Tracy?  He threw up his arms in triumph at game's
end and was nearly mobbed by his teammates.  Has he been in a slump or
does he have visions of transferring to Denver?  (Unabashed sarcasm and a
bit of sour grapes...  Tracy played pretty well,
all in all.)
 
As for UAF, I'm sure they will have no problems getting teams to come to
Fairbanks following their recent fits of generosity.  Since the
Thanksgiving weekend Great Alaska Faceoff, the Nanooks have been outscored
27-8 in five home appearances.  If this is Christmas spirit on display,
Fairbanks needs a visit from the Grinch!
 
I'll be back next week with results from the Nanooks' December 30-31 home
series against former UAF head coach Don Lucia's CC Tigers.
 
Happy holidays!