Early in last night's contest at Bright Arena, it looked like the Harvard women's hockey team would turn the defending Ivy League champion Pandas into Ancient Eight Pansies.
But a more polished Brown squad finally got on track and knocked off the Crimson, 3-2, in overtime.
The loss was the first of the year for the icewomen (1-1) who trounced Yale on Saturday, 5-2. The Pandas--2-0 and coming off a 4-2 thrashing of Dartmouth--remain undefeated and the clear favorites to snag a second-straight Ivy crown.
The Crimson--despite a 29-save effort from goalie Jennifer White--ultimately could not hold off its more experienced opponent last night.
But early in the first period, an upset appeared in the making.
"They outskated us," Harvard Coach John Dooley said. "But our goalie kept us in the game."
Harvard tallied first at 13:37 of the first period on a power play slapshot by Karen Carney and controlled the early action.
The sophomore wing simply followed up her own shot which the Brown netminder blocked but didn't clear.
The Pandas--although outplayed by the aggressive Crimson until that point--responded with three minutes remaining in the period on Brown forward Kim Les's blast off a pretty pass from Panda center Mardie Corcoran.
Corcoran--the Ivy Player of the Year last year--was the big drawing card for last night's contest. And she didn't disappoint the 40 shivering spectators, two German sheppards and three stuffed Pandas who packed Bright Arena.
"Corcoran is a superb player," Harvard Coach John Dooley said.
Corcoran had a goal and an assist and forced White to make several stunning saves.
Her goal--a rebound of a Bonnie Welch blast off the glass--came with six seconds remaining in the second period and lifted Brown into a 2-1 lead.
But after Corcoran's goal, it was the Crimson that retalliated when Harvard center Johanna Neilson beat the Panda netminder at 10:22 of the third period.
"I was in front of the goal and took a pass from Karen Carney," Neilson said. "I waited until their goalie made a move and then put it high and past her."
Corcoran's score forced the overtime that Brown dominated for all eight seconds.
Not even New York Islander goalie Billy Smith could have stopped Brown wing Lisa Bishop's blast eight seconds into the extra frame.
Bishop's shot appeared headed far left of the Crimson net until it bounced off a Harvard defender's skate and past a stunned White.
Harvard walked off with heads bowed but with spirits still high.
Although Dooley wasn't particularly pleased with the icewomen's performance last night, he found hope in their season-opening victory against Yale.
In Saturday's contest, Brita Lind netted two goals to power the icewomen past the Elis.
"We played much better against Yale," Dooley said.
Pandas, 3-2
at Bright Center First Period--H, Karen Carney (Brita Lind) 4:23. B. Kim Les (Mardie Corcoran) 14:40. Second Period--B. Corcoran (Bonnie Welch) 17:54. Third Period--H, Johanna Neilson (Carney) 6:22. Overtime--B, Lisa Bishop (unassisted) 9:52. Saves--B, Mara Spaulder 7-5-8-0-20; H, Jennifer White 9-10-10-0-29.
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