CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Sean Malone and Seb Lloyd each scored two goals to lead the 12th-ranked Harvard University men’s hockey team to a 5-2 win over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), on Friday in Game 1 of a best-of-three ECAC Hockey quarterfinal series. With the win, the Crimson improves to 17-9-4, while the Engineers drop to 18-14-7.
Just moments after a power play expired, Malone skated into the left circle and fired a shot by RPI senior netminderJason Kasdorf for his eighth goal of the year. Assists went to Luke Esposito and Desmond Bergin.
Lloyd made it 2-0 at 7:04 of the second, when he swept home a one-timer, off a feed from Ryan Donato. A second helper was credited to Adam Baughman.
Harvard took a 3-0 lead at 11:12 of the frame, after a rebound fell to Colin Blackwell, who was waiting at the side the crease. Malone’s attempt from the bottom of the right circle was turned away by Kasdorf, but the puck deflected right to Blackwell for the easy finish.
Lloyd earned his second of the game at 15:38 of the second, deflecting a point shot past Kasdorf for a power play tally. Donato took a slap shot from the blue line that clipped Lloyd’s skate on the way to the net. Alexander Kerfoot had the second assist.
RPI got on the board late in the second, when senior Milos Bubela finished on the rush for his 12th goal of the season. His fourth shorthanded goal of the year came unassisted at 18:06.
Senior Phil Hampton made it a two-goal game (4-2) at 4:49 of the third, sticking home a rebound from the right circle. Classmate Mark Miller took the initial shot from the left wing.
Malone pushed the Harvard lead back to three goals (5-2) at 9:32, with assists to Luke Esposito and Blackwell.
Crimson goaltender Merrick Madsen (16-5-3) made 24 saves, while Kasdorf (12-12-5) made 27 in the opening 35:38, before being relieved by Cam Hackett, who stopped 11 of the 12 shots he faced.
Harvard finished 1 for 3 on the power play, while RPI went 0 for 1.
MORE SHORTIES:
RPI senior Milos Bubela scored his fourth shorthanded goal of the season in Friday’s quarterfinal.
HACKETT SEES ACTION:
Freshman goalie Cam Hackett came on in relief on Friday against Harvard and made 11 saves on 12 shots. It was his first action since December 12 against Arizona State.
ON THE BRINK:
The Engineers’ season will be on the line Saturday in Game 2. RPI will look to force a Game 3, which would take place on Sunday.
UP NEXT:
Both teams are back in action tomorrow night for Game 2 of the series (7pm).
