Excellence on Ice

Every once in a while, Harvard fields an athletic team that excels on the national level. Sometimes that team is special because it overcame seemingly insurmountable odds with sheer will and determination. Such was the case when our women's basketball team stunned Stanford in the first round of last year's NCAA tournament-the first No. 16 seed in the tournament ever to defeat a top seed in NCAA basketball history. But sometimes a team is special not because of one spectacular moment but because it has consistently dominated its competition for the entire season-a team so far ahead of the pack that it seems almost surreal.

Tomorrow, our women's ice hockey team will depart for Minnesota to begin its quest for the American Women's College Hockey Association National Championship. Seeded first, Harvard is the overwhelming favorite to bring home the title. Already, the team's accomplishments are mind-boggling. Riding off an amazing 28-game winning streak, it has captured both the Eastern College Athletic Conference regular season crown and the playoff championship. Boasting four of the nation's top five goal scorers, the team has an overall record of 31-1-0 and has outscored its opponents 207 to 54.

Players on the team have represented their countries in international tournaments, won Olympic gold medals and shattered school records. But these women represent more than just excellence on the ice. They have become the standard bearers for women's hockey and have embraced the role as ambassadors of their sport. After the final buzzer during home games, scores of high school and junior high school girls, who came to cheer on their heroes, flock to the players, hoping for an autograph or a smile-and Harvard never fails to respond with total enthusiasm.

The team has conducted hockey clinics and other activities, attracting players for a game traditionally reserved for the boys. Their role in raising the profile of their sport and sharing their success with their community is what makes these players truly special.