Harvard 3 - Union 3: "I'll Let You Draw Your Own Conclusions"

Mat Bodie sat down in the Union pressroom after the game, still panting. The first question directed at him was about his injury in the second period, where he was doubled over in pain after blocking a shot.

"It works on so many levels!"

"Right in the moneymakers," he said, without breaking stride. "I'll let you draw your own conclusions from that," he deadpanned. And although Union's 3-3 tie may not have been nearly as painful as Bodie's, um, injury, the immediate reaction from the crowd might have been the same.

After entering the third period with a 3-1 lead, Union let the lead slip away to a Harvard team that has deservedly earned the moniker the "comeback Crimson." Tonight marked the 19th time this season Harvard has trailed in a game. It was also the 15th time they've come back and tied the score. It seems like a mark of a team on their way to stardom. Except Harvard is now 3-3-3, and very much a .500 team in most aspects of their game. They have eight players on their roster who are property of NHL teams and own an impressive 32.2% success rate coming into the game on the powerplay. With two powerplay goals tonight, that's now hovering around 34%--a staggering number.

Still, Harvard entered with a highly-touted yet struggling goaltender (who made some brilliant game-saving stops, as it turned out). Union's first period was dominant: they peppered Steve Michalek with 13 shots to Harvard's four. The Carr-Welsh-Sullivan line started the game and provided some dynamic plays. But it was Wayne Simpson who drew first blood, opening the scoring quickly in the first period. Kelly Zajac's feed to the slot put Simpson second behind Jeremy Welsh for the team lead in goals.

Alex Fallstrom, who seemed to be all over the ice (and in the face of many Union players) netted the second goal of the game, Harvard's first.

Mat Bodie struck back with a pinpoint-accurate slapshot over the right shoulder of Michalek. It was Union's first powerplay goal of the game. But Bodie wasn't done. After evidently tapping the LB button on his controller, he dodged a Harvard defender en route to a beautiful deke/jump that sprang him in the Harvard zone. He fed the puck to his left to a streaking Josh Jooris, who, in turn threaded a pass to an open Daniel Carr. Carr, on the off wing, crouched to one knee and made it 3-1. But after an Alex Killorn goal on the powerplay brought it to 3-2, Danny Biega wristed a shot past a helpless Troy Grosenick. Union was subsequently stoned by Michalek on some brilliant chances; head coach Ted Donato noted post-game that there is a reason this kid already was drafted.

It's easy to walk away from Messa Rink tonight with a sour taste in your mouth. Perhaps with the feeling that you just got hit "in the moneymakers." But Mat Bodie shook it off. So should you.

Why?

Union played a splendid first period tonight, one that had people in the press box wowing their domination of the Crimson. They faltered slightly in the second and third, but Harvard also used its ace in the hole: the top powerplay unit in the country. (They've scored, dating back to last season, powerplay goals in 17 consecutive games). The Dutchmen showed a spark that was reminiscent of the dominant type of play that was a constant last year. With explosive options on the point to grinders down low, each player is visibly committed to their role and to a crisp team game. With these cogs starting to fall into place, Union can make a push toward the top of the ECAC standings. Their next opponents--Dartmouth (tomorrow, home), Harvard (at Fenway), and RPI--will not be pushovers. But they should be a good litmus test for this Union team that is only 1-2-3 on home ice. With Coach Bennett staying as positive as ever, there is little reason not to think that Union can carry some of that dominance on display in the first period tonight over two more periods.

So, as Mat Bodie told us, we can draw our own conclusions. A 3-3 tie could be grounds for concern. Or, more logically, excitement for upcoming stretch of games. This team is poised to make another run for the Cleary Cup. It just depends on how quickly you can get up, get back on the ice, and start skating again. If this team's collective ethos is any indicator, they won't miss a shift.