After going down early, the Saints battled back with goals from Rasmus Svartström, Gabe Westling, and Tyler Cristall, but they could not complete the comeback as the St. Lawrence University men's hockey team fell 4-3 on Saturday night in Appleton Arena.

The Saints fell to 2-9-1 with the result and 1-3-0 in ECAC play, while the Crimson improved to 4-1-1 and 3-1-0 in league play.

Earlier in the day, the St. Lawrence University men's program, in partnership with the Hockey Alumni Association, inducted Tom O'Connor '75, P'12, and the late Ray Shero '84 into the Legends of Appleton. The program also celebrated with the Ray Shero '84 Memorial Alumni Game in front of the Appleton Arena faithful. 

Before the contest, O'Connor and his family dropped the ceremonial first puck, and both O'Connor and Shero were honored diuring the first intermission in front of a packed Appleton Arena.

Harvard got started quickly with a goal 52 seconds into the game, coming from the stick of Philip Tresca, and doubled their lead less than five minutes later with a tally from Salvatore Guzzo.

Despite some strong chances from captain Jan Olenginski, Isaac Tremblay, Sam LeDrew, and  Svartström later in the first, the game went to the break at 2-0.

The second period began in a messy fashion with four penalties being assessed between the two sides. Neither team was able to capitalize on special teams, however, as the game stayed a two-goal contest.



With less than two minutes to go in the second, Tresca scored his second goal of the night to take a 3-0 lead, but the Saints struck back in short order.

Cristall scooped the puck off the boards from Cooper Pierson with less than a minute left in the middle frame. The senior found Svartström, who, after having his first shot saved, stayed with the play and buried the rebound to make it 3-1 going into the break.

St. Lawrence carried the momentum into the third period, where they would make it a 3-2 game in the first five minutes. A pass from Jake Lammens skipped up to Gunnar Thoreson, who, after getting a rough ride up the boards, pushed the puck out to Westling. The sophomore forward came in and beat Ben Charette five-hole to make it a one-goal game.

Harvard regained their lead minutes later with a power play goal from Casey Severo, but the Skating Saints didn't quit.

At the 8:56 mark, the line of Pierson, Svartström, and Cristall struck again. Pierson passed the puck off to his classmate, Svartström, who fired a perfect pass across the crease to Cristall, who made the score 4-3. The assist was the first for Svartström in his collegiate career.

The Saints continued to push and pulled their netminder late, but could not find the equalizer.

Mason Kucenski finished the night with 22 saves, while Charette stopped 33 in the home net.

St. Lawrence finished with the 36-26 edge in shots on goal, while the Crimson got the better of them in special teams, going 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Saints went 0-for-4.
 
Despite the Centennial Celebration and Legends Weekend coming to pass, the St. Lawrence University men's hockey program will continue its centennial season next weekend when the team heads to Princeton on Friday at 7 p.m. before heading to Hamden, Conn., for a matchup with the Quinnipiac Bobcats on Saturday.