So Far, So Perfect: Mazzoleni's men start off season with a promising 3-0 record

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November 11, 1999

SEARCH THE GAZETTE

HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES

By Paul McNeeley
Sports Media Relations

Goalie Oliver Jonas '02

Yes, it is now official. The Mark Mazzoleni era has begun in exciting fashion as the Harvard men's hockey team is off to a perfect 3-0 start. Following a 1-0 win at Brown in the season opener on Oct. 30, the Crimson still needed to prove to its local faithful that the team was on its way back to the top of the ECAC. With convincing wins of 7-2 over Dartmouth and 6-3 over Vermont in its home-opening weekend, the Crimson is, in fact, all alone atop the ECAC standings. Harvard has six conference points (3-0-0 ECAC record), while St. Lawrence (four points, 2-0-0 league mark) trails in second place following the league's opening weekend.

Brett Nowak '03, ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week

Mazzoleni's squad looks to maintain its spot in the league standings this coming weekend on the road against ECAC foes Colgate and Cornell

The Crimson's start this season is its best since going 4-0 to begin the 1993-94 campaign, in which the team advanced to the NCAA semifinals. But while Mazzoleni is pleased with the results his team has produced out of the gate, he knows it's a long race.

"You can't ask for a better start so far than 3-0, but at the same time, it's only three games," said the first-year coach. "In a league as tight as this one, it is very important to get out to a good start and, in particular, establish yourself at your home rink. So I'm pleased we were able to accomplish that; however, we must continue to improve every day."

Mazzoleni was also pleased with the fact that both of this past weekend's wins were results of complete team efforts. On Friday night, 12 different Crimson players recorded at least one point. On Saturday, that figure climbed to 13. On Friday, senior goaltender J.R. Prestifilippo made 31 saves to anchor the win; the next night, it was junior Oliver Jonas stopping 28 shots between the pipes in his first start of the season. And on the blue line, senior Matt Scorsune and sophomore Peter Capouch both delivered big goals while backboning a steady crew of defensemen.

Peter Capouch '02

One of the pleasant surprises of the home-opening weekend was the contribution of the Crimson's freshman class. Forwards Brett Nowak and Dominic Moore, both of whom have older brothers on the team, stepped up right away as each scored two goals to key Harvard's seventh straight win over the Big Green. Nowak, who was named the ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week, added two assists in the Dartmouth game to finish with a team-high four points. Meanwhile, freshman defenseman Aaron Kim was a commanding presence, particularly on special teams.

Sandwiched in between Nowak and Moore's goals against Dartmouth, Scorsune lit the lamp with a booming slap shot from the right point at the 14:52 mark of the second period for what would stand as the game-winning goal.

Senior forwards Brett Chodorow and Matt Macleod added insurance goals in the third period to seal Dartmouth's fate. Following the game, Mazzoleni was happy with the team's offensive production but less than ecstatic with the fact that the Crimson was whistled for 11 penalties.

The next night, Harvard made just two trips to the penalty box, while making good on two power plays of its own.

The first extra-man goal came 6:38 into the first period, when sophomore forward Jeff Stonehouse took a pass from senior defenseman Mark Moore directly in front of the Catamounts' goal and converted. Senior captain Trevor Allman added a goal at 10:36 to extend the lead to 2-0.

Yet Vermont struck for two goals in the final minute of the first period to even the score at 2-2 heading into the first intermission.

The Crimson trailed for the first time this season when Vermont's Kevin Carlander netted the only goal of the second stanza, but Harvard's best play was yet to come.

Four third-period goals lifted the Crimson to victory, as Capouch scored on a power play, freshman Dominic Moore beat Vermont goalie Andrew Allen on a beautiful move at the left post for the game-winner, and Chodorow and classmate Scott Turco punctuated the win with goals.