Team USA Outlasts Icemen, 5-4

No one could have guessed it was going to be this close.

Last night at Bright Hockey Center, Team USA barely scrapped by with a 5-4 victory over a young Harvard men's hockey squad in a game oozing with Crimson pride.

The future Olympians may have snagged a victory, but it was Harvard that garnered the respect of the 3214 fans at the exhibition contest.

Harvard's veteran defense, anchored by Captain Kevin Sneddon and Sean McCann, kept the power-house USA squad at bay, while the Crimson's untested offense produced when it had to.

"I don't think I've ever been as happy with a loss," senior Tim Burke said. "I was impressed a lot with the poise of the freshmen. They played great hockey."

Indeed, the freshmen came up big for the Crimson, with Corey Gustafson netting a goal and Brad Konik tallying an assist. Gustafson and Konik sparkled on the offensive end, creating key plays throughout the night.

But the Crimson also received some clutch play from its returning members.

One minute into the third session, junior Matt Mallgrave raced down the right side and slapped a hard shot into the upper right net past USA netminder Ray LeBlanc. Mallgrave's tally knotted the game at 4-4.

It took a late tally by 1991 Hobey Baker winner David Emma with seven minutes left in the game to put the national squad on top for good.

Tommassoni Pleased

"I'm obviously very pleased," Harvard Coach Ronn Tommassoni said. "If we come out and give that effort every night, we can beat any club. Konick had a heck of a game, but so did his other classmates."

"We have four pretty balanced lines out there. I couldn't tell you who the first one is," Tommassoni gushed.

Harvard may have outplayed the Olympians tonight, but Team USA was playing at less than full strength. The top line, led by Sean McEachern, sat the night out, as did starting goalie Scott Gordon, in preparation for two upcoming games against National Hockey League opponents.

Indeed, the national squad looked out of synch all night, failing to capitalize on chances in front of the net and missing key passes.

"I think we just caught them on a flat night," Burke said.

Another Rout?

Judging by the first five minutes of play, it looked as if Team USA was headed for another collegiate rout.

Just when it seemed like a massacre in the making, with the score 2-0, the Harvard offense exploded for three power play goals--by Brian Farrell, Gustafson and Burke--in under 10 minutes to give the Crimson a 3-2 lead.

"We expect to handle the college teams pretty well, but they out-worked us," former Harvard star Scott Fusco '86 said. "Those power play goals game them a confidence and momentum."

Team USA answered the Crimson challenge with two tallies late in the first session--by BC alums Marty McInnis and Guerin--to put them on top 4-3 heading into the second stanza.

Hughes Shines

Team USA came out flying in the second period, but failed to keep the pressure on the Crimson net. Throughout the period, the two teams took turns coming up empty on offensive chances.

Hughes came up huge the entire night, recording an impressive 17 saves in 30 minutes of action.

"I was really fortunate," Hughes said. "The defense did a really good job in the zone, not giving them any chances to score."

After Mallgrave's tally early in the third to knot the score at four, the Crimson defense--led by Hughes--continued to stun the Olympians attack, until Emma's late game goal.

The Crimson's multiple shots late in the game failed to find the net.