Women’s Ice Hockey Challenges High-Scoring Quinnipiac and Princeton

Coming off of two lockdown performances last weekend, the Crimson (1-2-0, 1-2-0 ECAC) will look to maintain its defensive intensity this weekend against high-scoring Quinnipiac (2-4-2, 2-0) and Princeton (2-2, 2-0). The Tigers lead the conference in goals scored with 11 through just two games. The Bobcats have played good offensive hockey as well, having tallied a conference fourth-best six goals in their two wins. Defensively, Harvard will be up for the test in what should shape up to be two exciting matchups this weekend.

Last weekend, the Crimson fell short to No. 6/6 Cornell, 3-2, and No. 9/10 Colgate, 1-0, despite defensive and goaltending heroics. In each game, Harvard scrapped for a full 60 minutes but could not quite turn the corner to end up on the right side of the leaderboard. To tilt tight games in the team’s favor this weekend, the Crimson stressed tenacity in practice.

“If we had played with the same urgency we did once it was 1-0 [in the Colgate game], it could have completely changed the game,” junior forward Kat Hughes said. “That’s something we’re really focusing on this week and going into the weekend.”

In addition to their strong offensive records in conference thus far, both Quinnipiac and Princeton have taken care of their defensive zones. The Bobcats sit at a plus-six goal differential in conference play and the Tigers tout a plus-eight stat line. To establish greater urgency early in the game and combat strong defensive capability, Harvard will look to play at a faster pace with more offensive aggression.

“We took a lot out of it [last weekend] and really recognized the importance of scoring first and jumping out right away,” Hughes explained.

Defensively, the Crimson has been stout so far, surrendering five goals in three games. Goaltending has been a critical component to the defensive prowess, as both net minders who have appeared in games — freshman Lindsay Reed and junior Beth Larcom —have posted save percentages above .900. Harvard goaltending has posted an aggregate .956 save percentage for the year, spearheaded by Reed’s Division I-leading .974 mark. To continue success, the Crimson defensive zone will have to remain solid.

“Going into games, if you know that you’re going to win the defensive zone, then you’re going to win games,” senior forward Kate Hallett elaborated. “Sticking to the basics and using a lot of communication in the [defensive] zone will hopefully provide for some good offensive opportunities.”

Obviously, defensive tenacity is a critical component of the Crimson’s young season, but not just to prevent goals. Going forward, Harvard will try to convert solid back line play into goals. In this weekend’s games, the Crimson will be looking to counter-attack and take some risks offensively.

“With our defense and goaltending obviously playing so well, it kind of gets the offense going,” Hughes said. “It’s really inspiring and kind of comforting to know that we can try something and our defense has our back. That sense of trust is really important.”

Finally, with both Quinnipiac and Princeton representing pivotal, conference opponents, intangible toughness and the ability to bear down in hectic game situations will be key for the squad. Having battled through three close finishes already, the Crimson should be up for the challenge of a nail-biter, but the squad will have to up the intensity even more through the final whistle.

“Those close games prove to us that we have to have more resilience,” Hallett said. “You’re not going to win games by just giving 40 minutes; it’s got to be an entire 60 minutes.”

The puck drops Friday night at 6 PM against the Bobcats, and the team will continue to New Jersey on Saturday to take on the Tigers at 3 PM.