Donato’s four lift Harvard
Harvard warmed up for Monday night’s Beanpot final by putting a 6-2 chill on ECAC frontrunner Union last night.
Sophomore left winger Ryan Donato erupted for a careerhigh four goals, connecting twice into empty nets, as a Bright-Landry Hockey Center crowd of 3,095 roared its approval.
Donato became the first Crimson skater to score four goals in a game since Conor Morrison in a 6-5 overtime loss to Boston University on Nov. 23, 2009. The 6-foot-1 Bruins prospect also had 13 of Harvard’s 32 shots on net.
“I had no idea. If I knew it was that many I probably should have passed the puck a few times,” Donato said. “I’m always thinking
shoot first but I have two great linemates that get me the puck and I know they like to shoot the puck as well.’’
The game pitted No. 4 Crimson (175-2, 12-4-2) against No. 6 Union (19-82, 12-4-1). “We did a really good job having laser-like focus on Union this week,” said Harvard co-captain Devin Tringale of Medford. “This was a really, really big game for us.’’
Harvard caught an early break on the forecheck when Donato swatted the puck off the stick of a Union player. The backhand swipe sent the puck into the Dutchmen net at 3:02. Harvard then erupted for three second-period goals in a span of 4:17, starting at 7:44.
That was enough for Union coach Rick Bennett, a Springfield native and former Providence star, who called time out. Bennett lifted goalie Jake Kupsky (12 saves) for Hanson’s Joe Young (13 saves).
“The second period was one of our better periods in a while,’’ said Harvard coach and Ryan’s dad Ted Donato. “Obviously, coming out of the period up a few was good. We expected them to come out full of fire in the third. I don’t know if we handled it as well as we should but Merrick (Madsen) played well and made some big saves.”
Union ruined any shutout hopes Madsen (32 saves) had when senior captain Mike Vecchione of Saugus beat him in close at 2:59 of the third. It was 23rd goal of the season for the nation’s second-leading scorer and former Malden Catholic star.
Union made it a 4-2 game when left winger Sebastian Vidmar backhanded home a rebound past Madsen at 8:59. Officials initially signaled no-goal but video review overturned the decision. Vecchione got an assist to reach 50 points, equaling the Dutchmen’s single-season mark with two others.
Donato then added a pair of goals into vacant nets.