Harvard Edges Boston University 6-5 After Late Goal Disallowed
A high-stick ruling erased a late Boston University equalizer, giving the Crimson a 6-5 victory in a game that featured six goals in under nine minutes.
By Justin Barnes ·
Harvard players celebrated a 6-5 win over Boston University at Agganis Arena on Tuesday night, securing a victory that relied on a successful late challenge. The result leaves the Terriers without the points that would have allowed them to enjoy an upcoming break with a win. The decision to award the goal to the Crimson came after a high-stick penalty was called on Jack Harvey, who had found the net with 51 seconds remaining to tie the score. The goal was removed from the board, forcing the Terriers to pull their goalie and play with a six-on-four advantage. They could not score in the remaining time.
The contest was decided by the scoring output of specific lines. Harvard’s fourth line, featuring Justin Solovey, Will Hughes, and Aidan Lane, produced four of the six Crimson goals. Lane recorded two of those four. Five different Boston University players scored in the loss. The game opened up in the third period, with the teams combining for six goals in a span of 8:47. Harvard led 1-0 after the first period and 3-2 entering the third. Senior Cam Johnson scored his first goal of the season to give Harvard a 6-5 lead with 7:47 left on the clock.
Harvard coach Rob Rassey noted the team’s ability to battle through the swings in momentum. “I love the way our team just stuck with it and battled,” Rassey said. He added that the game had many ups and downs, but he is proud of the group. Boston University coach Jay Pandolfo expressed disappointment over the result at home. “It’s just disappointing,” Pandolfo said. “We couldn’t find a way, at home here. You win a hockey game, and you enjoy the eight days off, right? It just leaves a bit of a sour taste.”
The Terriers were down four skaters during the game, a factor Pandolfo noted would be helpful during the upcoming rest. Harvard has a quick turnaround, traveling to Princeton on Friday before playing at Quinnipiac in Hamden, Connecticut. Boston University has the weekend off before hosting Quinnipiac on Wednesday.
Boston College is dealing with its own injury issues. Sophomore forward Oscar Hemming left the second game against Vermont last weekend with an upper-body injury. The Eagles finished that game with nine forwards and five defensemen. Sophomore defenseman Kristian Kostadinski scored his first NCAA goal in that series. Boston College coach Greg Brown praised Kostadinski for bringing the team together. “Just a great guy, great team guy,” Brown said.
Hemming and defenseman Teddy Mallgrave are considered day-to-day for Boston College. The Eagles will begin a home-and-home series with UMass at Amherst on Friday, with the return leg at Conte Forum on Saturday.
Other teams in the league face varied challenges this weekend. Dartmouth, which allows 0.8 goals per game, visits Quinnipiac on Friday. Merrimack, fourth in the nation at 4.7 goals per game, travels to Providence on Friday. UConn is down three of its top six defensemen and will face Northeastern with only five healthy blue liners. Bentley and Holy Cross are also on the road, while UNH and UMass Lowell host Union and RPI, respectively.
