Twenty-five-minute halves are not good for the Harvard women's ice hockey team.

After easily defeating Vermont 11-1 Sunday, the icewomen were shut out last night by host Providence, 6-0, in a game divided into two 25-minute halves.

Normal hockey format calls for three 18-minute periods.

"It's a new innovation, an experiment," Harvard Co-Captain Julie Sasner said. "I thought it would be good before the game."

Providence was sparked by Heather Linstad's two goals and a quick defense that limited Harvard to just 13 shots on goal. Providence goalie Linda Belanger recorded the shutout.

"They just outshot us and out-played us," Sasner said.

Despite yielding the six goals, Harvard netminder Jen White still recorded an impressive 35 saves.

Providence--along with Northeastern and the University of New Hampshire--is a perennial power in women's ice hockey. "Realistically, we were hoping that we would play our best game of the year, while they would play their worst game of the year," Sasner said.

Harvard hosts Boston College and Boston University next week. The squad's Ivy League campaign opens with a match at Yale December 6, and continues with a contest at Brown December 9. The Crimson closes out the month of December at UNH December 11.