Ruddock Earns Applause After Overtime Loss to Duluth

DULUTH, Minn.—After Harvard junior goaltender Jessica Ruddock looked back and saw Nora Tallus’ game-winning shot in the back of the net, she slouched her head down and held still. She had made a season-high 37 saves in the NCAA final, 24 in the third period and the two overtimes. But it was not enough to save the Crimson women’s hockey team from a 4-3 defeat.

As Duluth piled on the ice, Harvard players took turns consoling Ruddock and reminding her of her achievements.

“She could only do so much. We had to put one in the net,” junior captain Angela Ruggiero said. “After the game, it was hard to congratulate her.”

The Crimson players were not alone in commending Ruddock. As each Harvard athlete was individually recognized after the game, Ruddock received the most thunderous applause from the crowd of 5,167. The sign of respect warmed the disillusioned hearts of the Crimson skaters.

While name recognition is most often reserved for those Harvard players with Olympic medals, the Duluth fans were knowledgeable enough to appreciate the role Ruddock played in extending the game deep into the night.

“The crowd was tremendous, and so fair in many ways and very supportive of all of our great plays as well as Duluth’s,” Harvard coach Katey Stone said.

Prior the tournament, Ruddock had received more personal attacks from opponents than praise. She faced a difficult week of practice coming off a 7-2 loss to Dartmouth in which she was pulled after two periods, and Stone kept her on edge by threatening all week to start freshman Ali Boe in the Frozen Four.

Through it all, Ruddock was full of confidence entering the championship game.

“I can’t wait to get on the ice [after] all this preparation,” Ruddock said the day before the final.

While the Bulldogs touched the Crimson up for three goals in the first two periods, the 46:45 prior to Tallus’ goal was the longest scoreless stretch Duluth had experienced in a single game this season.

Harvard shut down the Bulldogs despite missing Ruggiero for 12 minutes during that stretch. The Crimson rotated four defensemen—Ruggiero, sophomore Ashley Banfield, senior Pamela Van Reesema and captain Jamie Hagerman—for most of the game. Freshman Jennifer Skinner filled in during Ruggiero’s absence.

When Duluth did thread the puck into the crease, Ruddock shut the door. The Bulldogs’ first dangerous chance in overtime came about halfway through the first extra period when Hanne Sikio walked the puck into the crease. Captain Kalen Ingram disrupted Sikio to free the puck, but Ruddock couldn’t cover it up and it trickled towards the net. As Sikio tried again to jam the puck home, Ruddock stoned her with the end of her left leg. In the confusion that followed, the puck was sent all the way back to the point.

Ruddock’s most improbable save came with 6:27 left in the first overtime. Duluth senior Maria Rooth gained control of a blocked shot at the end line and feinted like she was going around the net. Instead, she cut back and tried to bank the puck near-side off the back of Ruddock’s legs into the goal. Instinctively, Ruddock went airborne at just the right time and dived away from Rooth. The puck skirted harmlessly across the crease and Ruddock landed on top of it. She stood tall and held the puck triumphantly for everyone to see.

At the game’s end, however, Ruddock did not stand tall. At 4:19 of the second overtime, Tallus received a creative no-look pass in the high slot from Erika Holst down low and put the puck on net. Harvard defenders valiantly tried to block the dangerous shot, with junior Lauren McAuliffe going down to her knees and sliding to her right and Ruggiero extending her leg and sliding left. But the puck flew just past McAuliffe’s shoulder, inches above Ruggiero’s leg, and deflected perfectly off the right post into the net.