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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!