ITHACA, N.Y--Unstoppable is perhaps the only word to define Harvard women's hockey at this point in league play, with a current win streak of twenty-one games. HARVARD  4 HARVARD  10 ST. LAWRENCE  2

The No. 1 Crimson (23-1, 20-1-1 ECAC) took both ends of a New York state road trip, burying Cornell 4-2 in Ithaca, N.Y. after surrendering two late goals, then trouncing St. Lawrence yesterday in Canton, N.Y. by a 10-2 margin.

The top line of co-captain A.J. Mleczko, freshman Jennifer Botterill and sophomore Tammy Shewchuk provided the bulk of the ammunition as usual, getting five goals from Shewchuk, three from Botterill, as well as one from Mleczko, who continues to lead the nation in scoring.

Harvard 4, Cornell 2

In the final two minutes of third period play, Cornell (12-14, 11-11 ECAC) made a last ditch effort against Harvard, scoring twice in quick succession.

In most hockey games, two goals in the final minutes of play would result in a cataclysm of some sort. But the Crimson is not just any hockey team.

Even so, Harvard played a sub-pargame against Cornell, allowing sloppy defense and a less-than-spectacular passing game.

"We were putting some kids out there that were pretty cold, and the defensemen need to step up and make things happen," Coach Katey Stone said. "But they just made things happen for Cornell. But it's a good reminder and good lesson for us--we have to stay focused."

The Crimson did come out strong in the first period, making an effort to notch the first point. The line of Mleczko (24 goals 61 assists), Botterill, and Shewchuk took control early, allowing Botterill to score 53 seconds into the first.

"On the first goal, I was out in the slot," Botterill said. "A.J. gave me a perfect pass. I just got my stick on it and it went in."

The Big Red continued to fight for possession, but to no avail. The Crimson dominated the puck in the offensive zone, forcing Cornell goaltender Alanna Hayes to make 17 saves in the first period alone.

Another shot that Hayes didn't save came from Botterill (28, 39), giving her a pair of points for the night. Shewchuk (32, 35) took a shot that rebounded and remained uncleared from the crease.

At 6:41 in to the second, Botterill took advantage of the gift, and banged home a second goal, bringing the score to 2-0 Harvard.

Dominating the rest of the period, Harvard used plays reminiscent of power plays, making diagonal passes during even strength play. Cornell was ineffective, as the Big Red could not overcome the offensive attack.

Shewchuk scored the deciding goal with 2:28 togo in the first, giving Harvard a 3-0 lead.

"In general in the past couple of games, we'vepicked up a pattern of coming out slowly, andcoming alive in the third period," Mleczko said."We were determined to overcome that. So we camealive in the first period, but I think ourchallenge right now is to come out and play threereally solid periods of hockey."

The second period wasn't poor for the Crimson,but it seemed as if Harvard got a little toocomfortable with a three-goal lead. Passingthrough the neutral zone was not connecting, andthe defense was beginning to lapse.

Freshman Angela Ruggiero notched the firstpenalty of the game, called at 9:18 in to thesecond for high-sticking.

Harvard maintained control of the puck the BigRed during the penalty kill, keeping the puck outof their zone, and preventing a Cornell goal.

Ruggiero struck again at 13:51 with a holdingcall, giving the Big Red yet another chance theywere unable to capitalize on.

A Cornell penalty on Colette Bredin forroughing only 15 seconds in to the third gaveHarvard its first power play opportunity of thenight.

Sophomore Angie Francisco raised the pointtotal to 4-0 Harvard, with the power play goal 53seconds into the final period.

Despite the control that Harvard had over thegame, it seemed that the third period was itsweakest.

"We got on them early, but if you allow a teamlike this to keep building momentum, you neverknow what's going to happen," Stone said. "We hada little sour taste in our mouths due to somedefensive breakdowns. If we're going to continueto play like this, we're going to get stung."

Cornell's Danielle Bilodeau attempted to bringthe Big Red back in to the game, scoring a pair ofgoals within one minute of each other. The goal at18:35 kept Cornell from a shutout, and another at19:09 brought the Big Red within two.

"Unfortunately, things like that happen andluckily it wasn't a game-winning or game-tyinggoal in the last minute of play," Mleczko said."We had a little bit of a cushion. It's been along couple of weeks, and we've had some reallytough games. Our big challenge is to stay togetheras a team and stay focused."

Despite the last ditch effort by the Big Red,they couldn't close the gap, leaving Harvard witha bittersweet 4-2 victory.

Harvard 10, St. Lawrence 2

Yesterday afternoon the Crimson continued toroll over upstate New York, this time with aneight-goal cushion over St. Lawrence (10-16-2,7-15-2 ECAC).

Ruggiero and Shewchuk came out strong early,scoring at 13:18 and 14:38 of the first period,respectively. The Crimson would go on to score athird goal, at 17:10 on a power play.

Harvard struck twice more, only four minutesinto the second period. Freshman Jen Geromettatook a pass from Ruggiero at 4:07 to give theCrimson a four-goal advantage, and Botterillcushioned the lead at 4:27 with a pass fromMleczko.

Mleczko made it 6-0 Harvard at 7:25, and apower play gave Shewchuk the opportunity for asecond goal, scoring the seventh Crimson goal ofthe night at 13:38.

St. Lawrence battled back, as Suzanne Fiacconetted her first goal of the night with 33 secondsto go in the second period, cutting the Harvardlead to 7-1.

Ruggiero grabbed another point at 4:01 into thethird, raising the Crimson total to eight goals.Shewchuk, with the ninth goal of the night, scoreda hat trick at 11:34 into the third.

The final Crimson goal was scored at 12:57 fromforward Sally Maloney, thanks to a pass fromco-captain Claudia Asano.

St. Lawrence brought itself to within eight, asTrisha Powers battled her way through the intenseHarvard defensive net, scoring at 14:21 in thethird.

The Crimson will look to defend its 21-gamewinning streak and No.1 national ranking againstDartmouth and Boston College next weekend.

HARVARD, 4-2at Lynah Rink, Ithaca, N.Y.Harvard  3  0  1  --  4Cornell  0  0  2  --  2

First PeriodHar--Botterill (Mleczko) 00:53.Har--Botterill (Shewchuk, Mleczko) 6:41.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 17:32.

Third PeriodHar--Francisco (Ruggiero, Mleczko) 00:41. (PPG)Cor--Bilodeau (Oliver, Stewart) 18:35.Cor--Bilodeau (Oliver, Stewart) 19:09.Saves:Har--Kuusisto 9-6-4 19; Cor--Hayes17-11-18 46.Power Play:Har--1/3; Cor--0/4.Attendance:400HARVARD, 10-2at Appleton Arena, Canton, N.Y.Harvard  3  4  3  --  10St. Lawrence  0  1  1  --  2

First PeriodHar--Ruggiero (Dunn, Walsh) 13:18.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 14:38.Har--Botterill (Ruggiero, Shewchuk) 17:10. (PPG)

Second PeriodHar--Shewchuk (Ruggiero, Mleczko) 4:07.Har--Botterill (Mleczko) 4:27.Har--Mleczko (Smith, Botterill) 7:25.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Ruggiero) 13:38.(PPG)SLU--Flacco (Kirnan, Heyes) 19:27.

Third PeriodHar--Ruggiero 4:01.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Francisco)11:34. (PPG)Har--Maloney (Asano) 12:57.SLU--Powers 14:21.Saves:Har--Kuusisto 2-2-5 9;SLU--Ungewitter 21-11-13 45.Power Play:Har--3/6; SLU--0/8.Attendance:136