Yale, Harvard Play Scoreless Tie

by Tim Bennett

September 29, 2012

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Both Yale and Harvard have struggled to score goals at times in 2012, so perhaps it was fitting that the teams played a spirited scoreless tie to open Ivy League play on Saturday night.

The lack of scoring certainly wasn’t from lack of opportunities, however. The teams combined for 34 shots.

Yale goalkeeper Bobby Thalman was again solid. He made seven saves to post his fifth shutout of the season.

It was the third scoreless tie for the Bulldogs so far this season.

Yale (3-4-3, 0-0-1 Ivy) had the better of the play early, getting five of the first seven shots of the game.

“We played well in the first half. I thought our passing was good, and we created some danger,” said Yale head coach Brian Tompkins. “In the second half, we had to withstand a lot of pressure from Harvard, but I was proud of the way we regained our composure in overtime.”

The Crimson outshot the Bulldogs 13-4 in the second half.

Yale’s best pressure in the second half came with a little more than 10 minutes remaining. Kevin Michalak got off a shot that Harvard goalkeeper Joe Festa saved. Moments later Avery Schwartz also had a chance, but Festa was again there to make the save.

The Bulldogs managed one shot in the two 10-minute overtime periods. It came from Tony Wilbar early in the second extra period but was blocked by a Harvard defender. The Crimson had three shots in the overtimes, two of which Thalman stopped

Harvard (1-5-2, 0-0-1 Ivy) had 20 corner kicks in the game.

“Obviously we would have preferred to win, but this could prove to be a valuable result as the Ivy season unfolds,” Tompkins said.

The Bulldogs are back on the road next Saturday when they play at Dartmouth. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.