NOTEBOOK: Continuing Offensive Struggles Prevent Harvard From Winning in Regulation

Ineffective power play performance has bedeviled the Crimson of late.

Facing Boston University in the opening round of the Beanpot last night at the Bright Hockey Center, Harvard was just 1-for-5 on the man advantage.

A power play unit that was once ranked second in the country is just 3-for-24 over the last five games.

“I would be concerned if we weren’t getting looks at the net,” Harvard coach Katey Stone said. “When you’re putting pucks on the net, then good things are happening.

“If you’re not generating any good looks at the net, then you would have cause to be concerned.”

But the offensive woes don’t stop with the power play.

Freshman Sarah Wilson’s game-winner in overtime marked the Crimson’s first even-strength goal since junior Liza Solley’s tally in the first period of the New Hampshire game on Jan. 11.

That’s a span of 303:48 without an even strength goal.

Those results certainly don’t show a lack of opportunities.

Harvard (11-7-4, 7-3-4 ECAC) had 45 shots against Brown, 41 against Yale, and a further 41 against BU (10-13-4, 5-10-2 Hockey East).

In that three-game span, dating from last Friday to yesterday, the Crimson has scored just three goals.

“We don’t move goaltenders a lot,” Stone said. “It’s not sensational, oftentimes, stuffing us.”

Senior captain Carrie Schroyer thinks she has the answer to Harvard’s offensive woes.

“I think we want to play five-on-five hockey as much as possible,” she said. “We have to be a little more physical in front of the net sometimes.”

BOE’S GOT MO

Senior goaltender Ali Boe returned to the lineup for this game from a concussion sustained early last week.

Boe missed both of last weekend’s ties with Brown and Yale. During her absence, freshman Brittany Martin minded net for the Crimson, amassing 76 saves while surrendering just one goal.

Last night, Boe only had 16 saves—paltry compared to Terriers netminder Allyse Wilcox’s 39 stops—but she was solid enough to earn the victory for Harvard.

“I thought Ali did her job,” Stone said.

FIRST SHIFT

The night’s other first-round Beanpot game also required an extra frame to settle, with Boston College winning by a tally of 4-3.

Also playing at the Bright, the two teams faced off at 5 p.m., but the overtime forced the Harvard-BU game to start later than scheduled.

The Huskies drew first blood, scoring at 6:34 of the first period on freshman Erin Reil’s second goal of the season.

But the Eagles tied exactly six minutes later and scored two second-period goals—with Northeastern finding the back of the net just once in the middle frame—to take a 3-2 lead.

The Huskies tied the game with just under seven minutes to play on a tally by Crystal Rochon, but BC prevailed 11:12 into the overtime period on Meghan Fardelmann’s game-winner.

DESPERATELY SEEKING BEANPOT

Boston College is the only team in the tournament that has never won the Beanpot.

All four previous championship game appearances for Boston College—in 1999, 2002, 2003, and 2005—have come against Harvard.

Last year’s matchup was won 6-1 by the Crimson, and they have outscored Boston College by the combined tally of 29-3 in those games.

“We’re excited,” Schroyer said. “I think it’s great to be able to play for a championship in February.”

NOTES

The 2005-2006 season marks BU’s first as a varsity program, and the Terriers’ roster includes 16 freshmen out of 20 total players…This was the first time in the history of the Beanpot that both games of the opening round have gone to overtime…Harvard handily outshot BU in the game, notching 41 to the Terriers’ 17, but the visitors frustrated the Crimson by blocking 26 shots, including 17 in the first period… With a win against BC in the championship, Harvard would tie Northeastern for the longest Beanpot winning streak. The Huskies won eight consecutive Beanpots from 1984-1991.

—Staff writer Brad Hinshelwood can be reached at bhinshel@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Karan Lodha contributed to the reporting of this story.