"I remember a fat rebound bouncing out of the crease," Francisco said. "I just tried to get my stick on it and I was surprised to see it go in."

Harvard 4, Yale 3

It appeared that Harvard had things under control halfway through the third period on Saturday, but the Bulldogs rallied for three goals in the last 13 minutes of regulation to give the Crimson a scare.

Yale forward Jane Resor put the Elis on the board 7:12 into the final period. Then an unsportsmanlike penalty against Smith and an interference penalty against Francisco gave the Bulldogs a five-on-three advantage for 1:49 with less than four minutes left.

Resor set up Yale defenseman Amy LeClair on the power play. Then LeClair returned the favor to Resor with 1:15 left to cut the Harvard lead to 4-3.

Springer, in her first game back from the injury, was tested early. At 17:48 of the first, a tripping penalty against junior defenseman Julie Rando gave Yale a penalty shot. It was the first penalty shot of Springer's career, but she stuffed forward Lisa Meyers--who was Yale's leading scorer heading into the game.

"I have to play against a lot of breakaways in practice," Springer said. "That's what a penalty shot is, so I was ready for it."

Yale goaltender Katie Hirte kept Harvard scoreless in the first period with 13 saves. But Suurkask and Dunn scored in the second. Freshman forward Tracy Catlin scored a shorthanded goal at 5:39 of the second, and Francisco netted the eventual game-winner 1:07 later.