In terms of conditioning and personnel, Harvard is making a few changes. The Crimson has seen more than a month of ice time and is spending a great deal of practice time on just skating.

"We do a lot of work," Dooley said. "They don't shy away from it."

And to give the icewomen better bench strength, Harvard has four new faces this season--goaltender Gillian D'Souza, center Martina Albright, defender Sue Cullinane, and wing Amy Diehl.

Third, you have to get veteran performances from your veteran players.

Jennifer White is coming off a tremendous campaign between the pipes. Her numbers would catch the eye of any NHL scout--1.79 goalsagainst average and a 92.7 save percentage.

And White is hoping to continue her winning ways.

"My play is valuable because we're so strong up front," White said. "I think I'll do all right."

As for Char Joslin, she will try to buck the proverbial sophomore jinx as more and more will be expected from the three-sport superstar.

But as a three-sport person, she is having to fight through three "jinxes"--which could turn out to be an advantage.

"I probably lived through that in field hockey," said Joslin. "It's all in the mind...I'm planning not to have it happen to me [in ice hockey]."

Fourth, you have to take advantage of penalties--and the opposition's occasional weak power play--when they occur.

The special teams will attempt to take full advantage of Joslin's talents, as she will be partnered with Brita Lind as forwards on shorthanded situations and with Sasner on the point on the power play.

Joslin has already created a shorthanded goal for Lind and scored a power-play goal herself this year.

"I love special teams, especially on man-down--it's the greatest of challenges," Joslin said. "It lets me be really offensive when I'm really supposed to be defensive."

"In past years it hasn't been strong, but this year it will be an advantage," said Neilson, who will center the power play unit. "We've had two or three years to grow together."