Icemen Destroy Brown, 7-0; Stay on Providence's Tail

PROVIDENCE. R.I.--The Brown hockey team entered last night's contest with Harvard riding an 11-game losing streak, hurtling towards its worst record in 22 years.

And the Crimson, winner of its last five ECAC games, helped push the Bruins closer to the conference cellar with a 7-0 shellacking of its hosts.

The lopsided affair was a showdown for the ineptitude that has helped Brown compile a 1-17-1 ECAC record this season as well as a chance for Harvard players to improve on some already impressive statistics.

For instance, freshman goalie Grant Blair made 27 saves to earn his second shutout in a week, lowering his goals-against average--the NCAA's third best--to 2.65. Scott Fusco, the ECAC's fourth leading scorer, picked up a goal and two assists to raise his team-leading point total to 44 Eleven other players' names also appeared on the scoring sheet

The win also keeps Harvard hot on the heels of ECAC leader Providence, which must win at Colgate this afternoon to stay ahead of the Crimson By raising its record to 15-4-1 in the conference (17-7-1 overall), the victory kept Harvard just in front of St Lawrence (14-5-0 in the East), which beat Empire Division rival RPI in overtime last night, 5-4

Despite the closeness of the standings, it was difficult for the Crimson to motivate itself for a game against the doormat of the Ivies "It's a tough game to play," admitted Harvard Coach Bill Cleary. "It was difficult to get going until we got a couple of goals."

While the Crimson didn't exactly come out flying, it wasn't too difficult to get an early pair of goals. The Brown defense allowed the visitors seven shots form within 15 feet in the first period alone. Phil Falcone got things going after 8 16 of play, backhanding a loose puck in front past Bruin netminder John Fran zosa, and Jim Turner doubled the margin seven minutes later with a deflection of a Mark Fusco slapshot.

In the period's final moments, Blair stopped the most serius threat of the evening to his shutout when Bruin wingers Joe Kuzsnest and John McEvoy (no relation to Harvard, goalie Dickie) skated in on a two-on-zero break Blair dove just before the buzzer to block the pass to McEvoy with his stick

The Bruins made a more respectable showing in the middle stanza for the crowd of 1650, outshooting Harvard, 10-7. After both Fusco brothers picked up tripping penalties near the midway point, the Crimson had to kill off 40 seconds of a two-man disadvantage A few minutes later. Blair came through after Brown's Tim O'Connor slipped through the Harvard defense Crimson defenseman Neil Sheehy quelled the would be rally late in the period, catching the far upper corner of the net with a shot from the right point

The hosts totally collapsed early in the final 20 surrendering three goals in 101 seconds The first came at the 2 46 mark, when Ken Code's slapshot deflected off the sick of Brown Co-Captain Brian Riley and passed Franzosa for a 4 0 Crimson lead Scott Fusco scored at 4 14, breaking in along the right side and giving Bruin defender Brian Driscoll the stiff arm to free himself for the shot Fusco set up Harvard's sixth goal right after the ensuing faceoff, when Tim Smith converted his centering pass Shayne Kukulowiez closed out the scoring at the 11 56 mark with a blast from the ring faceoff circle

The convincing margin of victory wasn't the only source of satisfaction for the Crimson Earlier in the day. Harvard Captain Greg Olson, who recently shed his cast after suffering a broken ankle in December, played in the J V game against Brown

"You have to get him into game situations before you can expect to throw him into the playoffs." Cleary noted Olson, who said the ankle still felt somewhat still, will dress as a spare for the varsity's Sunday afternoon regular-season finale at Princeton

THE NOTEBOOK Senior Mark Colem in brought his going, well-known at Bright Center, to Providence for the game Brown plays Maine Tuesday in a game that should decide who will finish last in the ECAC At Providence, R.I. Harvard  2  1  4  7 Brown  0  0  0  0

H Phil Falcone (Jay North Dave Connors) 8 16, H Jim Turner (Mark Fusco) 15 07. H. Neil Sheehy (Mitch Ofson Tony Visone) 18 09 H. Ken Code (Falcene North) 2 46 H Scott Fusco (Shayne Kukulowiez, M Fusco) 4 14 H Tim Smith (S Fusco Kukulowiez) 4 27 H Kukulowicz (S Fusco Smith) 11 56

Saves H Grant Blair 3 10 14 27 B John Fran zosa 12-6 10--28. Att 1650

H Phil Falcone (Jay North Dave Connors) 8 16, H Jim Turner (Mark Fusco) 15 07. H. Neil Sheehy (Mitch Ofson Tony Visone) 18 09 H. Ken Code (Falcene North) 2 46 H Scott Fusco (Shayne Kukulowiez, M Fusco) 4 14 H Tim Smith (S Fusco Kukulowiez) 4 27 H Kukulowicz (S Fusco Smith) 11 56

Saves H Grant Blair 3 10 14 27 B John Fran zosa 12-6 10--28. Att 1650