Last night at Bright, the young Harvard women's hockey team learned a tough lesson from the undefeated, number one team in the Ivy League.
In a contest uneven from the start, Dartmouth overpowered Harvard 6-1.
The Crimson (7-13-2, 4-5-1 Ivy League) entered the game still savoring the intense weekend contests against St. Lawrence and Princeton. Riding the enthusiasm of a 2-1 upset over defending Ivy Champion Princeton, the Crimson hoped to derail this year's Ivy leader.
But Dartmouth (18-6-1, 8-0-1) showed the Crimson why it leads the league. Despite numerous penalties, the Big Grenn dominated the game with solid skating and selfless teamwork.
Harvard, on the other hand, found itself struggling against not only Dartmouth but its own injuries and fatigue.
"They're a great hockey team," Harvard Coach John Dooley said. "We had some kids sick and hurt. It's hard. [Sophomore defender] Winkie [Mleczko] hasn't been in practice. [Freshman forward] Megan Hall played outstanding and she's playing hurt."
But the Big Green showed no sympathy for the Crimson's physical limitations.
Just 1:22 into the game, Dartmouth junior Kim Reid took a precise pass from Sarah Howald and tallied one of her two goals on the evening.
This was just the beginning of a long night for goalie Eri Villiotte and the Crimson defense. Dartmouth controlled the puck for most of the game. It slipped into the crease, prowled behind the net and passed around the perimeter. Frequently, the Big Green hit bullet-like slap shots at Villiotte, who couldn't possibly stop the barrage.
"They're a good team," junior Co-Captain Joey Alissi said. "We left them open. They can get the puck to the open person."
Unable to stop the Big Green passing attack, the Crimson trailed by two goals after the first period.
In the second stanza, Dartmouth scored twice more before junior Francie Walton bulled past two defenders and netted a score from the outside, with assists from freshman Holly Leitzes and Alissi.
In the third, Dartmouth committed two more of its six penalties on the night. But Harvard couldn't convert the power plays, including two five-on-three player advantages. Dartmouth ended the game on a spectacular individual move by Kim Cohen, who maneuvered the puck past the stick side of a diving Villiotte.
The season is not over, however and, as always, optimism prevails on this team. First Period Dar--Reid (Howald, Whinery) 1:22. Dar--Ulion (Rochet, Devens) 10:52. Second Period Dar--Reid (Whinery, Howald) 3:40 Dar--Erickson (Ulion, Manchester) 4:43 Har--Walton (Leitzes, Alissi) 15:16 Third Period Dar--Whinery (Volger, Reid) 9:28 Dar--Ulion (Cochen) 16:32 Saves Har--Villiotte 6-6-4-16; Dar--Shegfried 2-10-12.34.
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