A controversial no-goal call in the second period worked against the Red, changing the complexion of the game in a 4-2 loss to Yale Friday night at Lynah Rink.

The Red (2-5, 2-3 ECAC) caught a bad break after killing off a five-on-three when Red forward Sean Collins had a breakaway, slipping the puck underneath Bulldogs goalie Ryan Rondeau as he was sliding backwards into the net.

It appeared that the puck rolled past the goal line, but the referees ruled that the whistle had been blown to stop play before the puck went into the goal.

According to Red head coach Mike Schafer, the questionable call was a major turning point in the game, a goal that would have given the Red the lead midway through the second period.

“[The call] definitely took a bit of a wind out of our sails at that point in time,” Schafer said. “I thought that was a good opportunity to make it 3-2.”

Instead, it was tied at two apiece at the end of the second period, and Bulldogs forward Chad Ziegler scored the eventual game-winner for the Bulldogs (6-1, 5-0) on a power play three minutes into the third period.

According to Schafer, it is difficult to play from behind against a team he believes can capitalize off opponent’s mistakes.

“[Yale is] the kind of team that if you get behind and they are above you and you try to force plays and you don’t execute they are going to come right back at you,” said Schafer. “And you saw a lot of that in the third [period].”

The Bulldogs put the game out of reach with an empty net goal late in the third period as the Red desperately tried to send the game into overtime, but to no avail.

For forward Mike Devin, it came down to who was more prepared, and he believed that there is still a game to be played after any questionable call.

“We had our chances, but they were the better team tonight,” Devin said. “Sometimes the bounces aren’t going to go your way and that’s hockey.”

The Red hope to bounce back from a tough loss, when they host Brown Saturday night at 7 p.m.

Despite the disappointing loss to the Bulldogs, Schafer believes that it is a learning experience for a youthful team that has some room for improvement.

“It’s back to the drawing board tomorrow night against Brown and [we have to] get ready and start to try to grow even more as a team,” said Schafer.