Union drops Harvard to 9/10

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Union College men’s hockey team fell to No. 9/10 Harvard University, 5-3, Friday night at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center.

With the loss, Union falls to 13-16-2 and 7-11-1 in ECAC Hockey play. Harvard moves to 18-6-2 on the season and 15-4-0 in conference play.

In his 100th college game, the junior Chaz Smedsrud scored his fourth goal of the season on the powerplay. Senior Owen Farris and the first year cal mell also scored a goal for the visitors.

The Crimson jumped out to a 1-0 lead after 35 seconds. John Farinacci tipped Ian Moore’s shot past the senior Connor Murphy. The lead was short-lived as Union found the back of the net a few minutes later on the power play. The first year John Prokop sent the first shot high into the slot, and Smedsrud guided the puck past Harvard netminder Mitchell Gibson.

Harvard scored two goals in 27 seconds to take a 3-1 lead. Harvard had a power play almost midway through the second period. The Crimson pressed and Sean Farrell found the back of the net in front of Murphy. Harvard added a second goal at 10:44 of the period after Wyllum Deveaux sent a pass across the slot to Philip Tresca, who took the corner for the goal.

Both teams added a pair of goals in the final stanza. Baker Shore scored the eventual game-winner at 2:22 of the period. Farris cut the lead in two a few minutes later. Second year student Cullen Ferguson fired a shot and Farris deflected it in for his seventh goal of the year. With 2:45 left, Union pulled Murphy for the extra forward. Joe Miller scored an empty netter 18 seconds later for a 5-2 lead. Shore was called for tripping with 45 seconds left in the game, putting the Union on the power play. The Union pulled Murphy again and capitalized with the extra forward on the power play. Mell fired a shot from the top of the right circle that deflected off a Harvard defender and went airborne, landing behind Gibson for the score.

Murphy made 23 saves to fall to 11-14-1, while Gibson stopped 26 shots to improve to 12-5-2.

Union returns to action tomorrow at Dartmouth College. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:00 PM at Thompson Arena.