The Harvard men’s ice hockey team secured a 3-1 win over the Colgate Raiders, sweeping their regular season series. The Crimson dominated the game with superior positioning and early shot conversion, riding the confidence of three straight victories. Harvard’s freshman forward Aidan Lane had an early chance, but was denied by Colgate’s senior netminder Andrew Takacs. However, the Crimson’s freshman defenseman Donato Bracco scored his first career goal on the power play, giving Harvard a 1-0 lead.
In the second period, Harvard blew the game open with two more goals. A lucky goal from sophomore forward Mick Thompson, who had been struggling to convert shots, extended the lead to 2-0. Junior forward Ben MacDonald then scored a one-timer goal, making it 3-0. The Raiders struggled to find their footing, but managed to score a goal in the third period on a power play, courtesy of senior forward Simon Labelle.
Despite Colgate’s efforts to salvage the game, Harvard’s defense held strong, and the team secured its fourth-straight win. The Crimson will face a major challenge in their next game against the No. 12 Cornell Big Red, a team that handed them their first regulation loss this season. One area for improvement for Harvard is the faceoff battle, which they lost 43-18 to Colgate.
The win marks a significant turnaround for Harvard, which had previously struggled with a 0-4 slog. The team’s momentum will be put to the test against Cornell, and they will need to improve their faceoff performance to set themselves up for success. The game against Cornell will be streamed on ESPN+ at 7:00 p.m. EST.
Harvard’s players showed strong performances, with Thompson and MacDonald contributing to the team’s goals. The Crimson’s defense also held strong, with Takacs making several saves to deny Colgate’s scoring chances. The team’s ability to capitalize on power plays and create scoring opportunities will be crucial in their upcoming game against Cornell. With their current momentum, Harvard will look to continue their winning streak and improve their standing in the ECAC.