BOSTON — When entering the press room at Harvard’s Bright-Landry Hockey Center, sophomores Ryan Donato and Lewis Zerter-Gossage carried a jovial swagger following a 4-3 victory by the No. 12 Crimson over Cornell.
Perhaps, however, Zerter-Gossage carried a little bit more swagger than Donato, even a smile, while fielding questions from the attending media.
Zerter-Gossage had earned his swagger just moments before out on the ice at Bright-Landry. The reason for his swagger? Zerter-Gossage had scored three goals Saturday night- his first career hat trick.
“I think [Zerter-Gossage] had a great game,” Harvard coach Ted Donato said. “He was driving the net. I think [Zerter-Gossage] having a good game is important. It’s important that we have depth.”
Zerter-Gossage got the scoring started early for Harvard, scoring just 1:25 into the game, silencing a vocal contingent of traveling Cornell fans taking in the rivalry matchup. The third goal, however, stood out, because of Zerter-Gossage’s interaction with Harvard’s student section.
“Being near our fan section was really special because we’ve been pumping up this game for a really long time, and friends of mine and other students in that section realized how important it was to us,” Zerter-Gossage said. “It was really nice of them to come out.”
Another aspect of Zerter-Gossage’s remarkable night was his historical performance going into Saturday night. Zerter-Gossage only scored three goals during his freshmen year. In his second season for the Crimson, three goals was not something to be expected going into Saturday night.
“You’re not going into the game trying to shut [Zerter-Gossage] down. He had a good night,” Cornell head coach Mike Schafer said. “He tipped one in on the power play, and collected a rebound around the net. He had a night where the puck found him.”
Playing on a line with players like Alexander Kerfoot, a senior approaching 100 points, and Ryan Donato, a 15 goal scorer last year, Zerter-Gossage might be overshadowed on the line. But playing in concert together, the three players potentially could make their line and Harvard’s second line (or line 1A as Ted Donato put it) a lethal one-two punch moving forward in ECAC Hockey play.
“I play with two really good players this year, they make it a lot easier for me,” Zerter-Gossage said. “Obviously last year we had a really deep lineup, especially on the right wing, so I didn’t get quite as many opportunities. I knew coming into this year that I’d get a little bit more, so obviously it’s great to see three go in in one night.”
ECAC Hockey roundup
Clarkson 4, Princeton 2
Troy Josephs scored the go-ahead goal, his second of the night, for Clarkson early in the third period after a back-and-forth night for the in-conference opponents. Ville Runola had 32 saves in the winning effort.t
No. 16 Yale 3, Rensselaer 2 (OT)
John Hayden scored two big goals, one late in the third period to tie the game, and one in overtime to win the game, to help stave off an upset bid by RPI. Chase Perry had 35 saves on 38 shots on goal for RPI.
St. Lawrence 2, No. 6 Quinnipiac 0
Quinnipiac will return to Hamden, Conn. following its weekend road trip with only two points after falling 2-0 to St. Lawrence. The teams were a combined 0-for-13 on the power play.
No. 20 Union 6, Brown 4
The Dutchmen proved victorious in a back and forth affair in Schenectady. Cole Maier had two late goals, the game winner and the empty net goal to seal the win for Union.
Dartmouth 2, Colgate 0
A two-point night for Carl Hesler power Dartmouth past Colgate Saturday night. Devin Buffalo had 21 saves in the shutout.
