No one has ever had a "good" loss, according to men's hockey Head Coach Brendan Whittet '94.
Not even on Saturday, when the winless Bears came back from a four-goal deficit to tie No. 9 Yale, but fell in overtime, 6-5.
"We're 0-6-1. I just want to win a hockey game," Whittet said. "That game was there for the taking tonight. And we just handed it to them there at the end of the game, for no reason. It's unacceptable."
Two minutes and 32 seconds into overtime, Yale's Denny Kearney charged down the right wing and sent a cross-ice feed to Broc Little. The Bulldogs' leading goal scorer one-timed the puck past goalie Anthony Borelli '13, and the Bulldogs (3-2-2, 2-1-2 ECAC) rushed onto the ice in celebration.
Brown (0-6-1, 0-4-1) continued its recent habit of weak starts and fell behind 4-1 in the opening period. Four different Bulldogs, including three freshmen, netted goals in the first frame. Yale scored on two of its three power plays in the period.
In the last five games, the Bears have been outscored 11-1 in the first period and outshot 75-29.
"That's all we talk about is our good starts and being ready to go," Whittet said. "I think it's totally in guys' heads. Honestly, if I could afford a sports psychologist, I would get one. Or I'd go get my degree in sports psychology, because I can't figure it out."
But once again, the Bears clawed their way back into contention.
"Clearly, you can see that they've got a big heart and that they don't give up," said Yale Head Coach Keith Allen.
After the first period, goalie Anthony Roselli '13 replaced Mike Clemente '12, who has let in at least four goals in each of the last four games.
In his first period of regular season college hockey, Roselli made nine of 10 saves. The lone goal he let in during the second period was accidentally kicked in by a Brown defender.
"Anthony was tremendous," Whittet said. "He was a stabilizing force, and he came in and gave us an opportunity to win the game."
After goals by Chris Zaires '13, Jarred Smith '12 and Jordan Pietrus '10, Brown was just one goal away from evening the score.
Midway through the third period, Harry Zolnierczyk '11 received a pass from Zaires at far post. Zolnierczyk one-timed the puck for his second goal of the game, tying the game, 5-5.
"Harry, I just told him, that it was the best I've seen him play this year," Whittet said. "He's excellent. He was determined. He moved his feet. And he was very, very good."
The game remained tied for the rest of the third period. Roselli denied 13 shots in the frame, including one from just feet away with less than 10 seconds left in regulation. The freshman goaltender, who finished with 29 saves, stopped two more shots in overtime but couldn't turn away the third.
After the third period, Yale's head coach told his team that "the ice was crappy. Shoot the puck. Don't try to make plays," Allen said.
The Bulldogs put the puck on net three times in overtime, and the Bears never did.
"No one feels good about the outcome, especially in our own barn," Zolnierczyk said.
"Putting a team up (three) goals is not a way you want to go. And basically, (Whittet) said we've got to get back to the drawing board and find a way to come out with a better start."
The puck drops between Brown and Bentley at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Meehan Auditorium. The Bears will be searching for their first win.
