Saturday evening at Bright Hockey Center the Harvard Crimson were dispatched
1-5 by the Saints of St Lawrence.  Harvard continues to struggle as a loose
group of individuals with little direction.  The Saints were impressive with
their composed team play that clinically provided the victory.
 
There was no scoring in the opening period.  Harvard came out with some
intensity, but you could tell their confidence was a tad thin.  SLU soaked up
the pressure while showing splendid puck movement on their power plays.
 
At the start of the second, St Lawrence came out with fire and skill and put
the game away.  John Poapst (Justin Harney) put the puck in the back of the
net, after a slick 1-2 up the right slot.  Harvard's JR Prestifilippo kept the
Saints off the board in the first with some aggressive goaltending, but now
the quickness of execution was overwhelming.  Fresher Robin Carruthers (Al
Fyfe, Dale Clarke) buried his chance when an out of the corner play found
Carruthers sneaking in all alone.  First-year defender Ray DiLauro (Bob Prier,
Kevin Veneruzzo) made it 0-3 when the Saints rotation schemed let DiLauro rip
the puck through Presto.  Half the match was over, and school was out.  Poapst
(Harney, Erik Anderson) finished the scoring for the middle frame when his
power play point drive found net after a nice quick pass from a face-off.
 
As the final period got underway you could see the confident moves of SLU
closing this one out.  The Crimson continued to get some good solo efforts,
but they looked like a beaten side.  Brett Chodorow (Scott Turco, Harry
Schwefel) knocked one in for Harvard when he pulled off a good left wing
break.  Fresher Brandon Dietrich (Mike Gellard) concluded the scoring at 1-5
when he snapped one in off another rotation play.
 
St Lawrence looks good.  They are not the fastest team, or the most talented
collection, but they play so well as a team.  The Saints pass well and know
how to use each other to create openings.  They also have a resilience that
let's them absorb the other guy's best shot.  The man of the match was SLU
coach Joe Marsh.  Netminder Eric Heffler was more than solid.  He snuffed
Harvard's few good chances like a pro.  Harney was superb on the blue line.
He is a smart and skilled defender who provides a great balance for his mates.
Up front, Gellard, Dietrich and Carruthers move very well together.  The young
line fits the revolving style of play and is producing.  The big unit of
Poapst, Anderson and Bob Prier was extremely strong.  Prier was all over the
ice.  He could be out even up, on the power play or killing a penalty and you
could see him checking in to make sure everything was tidy.  Prier is a
tremendous force for the Saints.  Overall, St Lawrence looks like a contender
with a brilliant attacking scheme.
 
Harvard has a lot of talent.  They can skate exceedingly fast.  The Crimson
lacks anything resembling a system.  Individuals put tons of energy out.
However the contrast with the Saints was striking.  SLU has an attacking
shape.  They know what to do with the puck and they get on with it.  Harvard's
players need just that.  I would add, how many players can be in the coach's
doghouse at once?  Some players are being used to excess while the kennel is
bursting.  Prestifilippo did a good job of keeping his squad in this one.
There is a real mix and match of defensive styles taking place in front of
him, but he hung tough.  Steve Moore did everything in his power to bring
Harvard a victory.  His wonderful set of skills is not getting the stage they
deserve.  Captain Craig Adams and Trevor Allman hustled and made plays all
night.  Allman generated a couple of breakaways.  I will say, the Crimson are
missing a number of important players, and that does not help the situation.
However, with coaching like this, no group of players is going to produce
dazzling hockey.
 
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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