Some players also saw yesterday's contest as a testing ground--and as an opportunity for bench warmers to see action.

"This win was good for our third line," said Crimson wing Karen Carney. "And for our second goalie."

Margulies, a freshman from New Hartford, N.Y., recorded two more saves than her classmate. She quelled the only serious B.C. threat when she turned back a slapshot with three minutes left in the game.

Boston College, however, is not the caliber of Brown or even some of the other Ivy League opponents the Crimson will face this year. And Dooley knows that in order to climb from the second place finish of last year to the top, his young team will have to become more polished.

"By February we'll have something that resembles a hockey team," Dooley said.

The icewomen face their next test Saturday in Burlington, Vt. against UVM.