Missing senior co-captain and leading returning scorer, Mike Bent (out
with a wrenched knee suffered during practice at mid-week), and then
losing senior starting goaltender, Scott Stirling, with a groin pull at
the 10:40 mark of the first period, the Brown Bears had their home
opener spoiled by the Harvard Crimson, 1-0, last night at Meehan
Auditorium.
 
Apparently, Stirling's injury occurred seconds before Harvard's Harry
Schwefel scored a power play goal on a rebound at 9:03 of the first
stanza (on a Steve Moore passout from behind the net that Aaron Kim had
fired initially on Stirling) to give the Crimson a lead they would never
relinquish.  But Bear sophomore goaler, Graham McNally, replaced
Stirling on short notice and blanked Harvard the rest of the way.  A
super performance from another member of Brown's heralded goaltending
corps, but the star of the game was Crimson senior goaltender, J. R.
Prestifilippo, who made 26 saves (a few of which bordered on the
miraculous), the last one with 1:50 to go in the third period robbed
Brown freshman forward Chris Legg of the tying goal on a point-blank
laser shot headed for the open right corner of the net.  Prestifilippo
was in mid-season form, and in a tight, defensive struggle between the
two teams, got solid support from his teammates throughout the contest.
 
The Bears outshot the Crimson, 26-23, but were unable to dent Presto for
the equalizer.  The two teams are scheduled to meet at Bright Arena in
Cambridge for a rematch on November 27th.
 
Overall, a solid, oftimes spectacular, outing by two evenly-matched
teams.  Harvard displayed a tight defense which was especially
opportunistic in the neutral ice zone, and Brown unveiled a particularly
impressive group of freshmen forwards and defensemen who clearly will
make a quick and productive transition to Division I hockey.  Certainly
a hard-fought first game from which both squads can profit going
forward.
 
Saves:
Stirling, Brown  4  (1 PP goal allowed)   10:40
McNally, Brown  19                               48:38
Prestifilippo, Harvard  26                       60:00
 
Total Penalties:
Brown    6/12
Harvard  7/14
 
Powerplays:
Brown    0/6
Harvard  1/4
 
Attendance:  2,317
 
Brown hosts Vermont and Dartmouth next weekend at Meehan Auditorium as a
full slate of ECAC regular season games is scheduled.
 
Bill Corrigan
 
LET'S GO BRUNO!
 
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