Mleczko leads the way as a tablesetter and capable goal scorer. She was named MVP of the ECAC and Beanpot tournaments in addition to the Ivy League and ECAC this season. Her 109 points are seven points off the Division I single-season men's and women's record set by Tony Hrkac when he led North Dakota to the men's national championship in 1986-87.

Mleczko's 73 assists are 23 more than her nearest competitor-sophomore winger Tammy Shewchuk. She is second in goals only to Shewchuk and has played excellent defense as well.

Mleczko herself could make any team potent offensively, but her linemates, Shewchuk and freshman winger Jen Botterill, have also had dominating years. The Harvard first line has been a veritable Cerberus. Shewchuk's 50 goals and 50 assists are good for the second best point total in the country, and Botterill, the top freshman scorer in the nation and Rookie of the Year in the ECAC and Ivy League, is third overall with 33 goals and 47 assists.

Ruggiero is not only the highest-scoring defenseman in the nation but also the sixth-highest overall scorer with 20 goals and 38 assists. Oft-overlooked sophomore winger Angie Francisco is 10th in the nation with 12 goals and 34 assists.

Harvard's strategy against Brewer is to use its arsenal to get off to a quick start and shake her confidence.

"The first time we played them, she was the difference," Mleczko said. "We need to get on her early."

In Harvard's 6-2 win against Brown, the Crimson did get to Brewer, who let in six goals for only the second time all season. She appeared rattled as Harvard piled on five third-period goals to break open what had been a 1-1 contest.

"I think it definitely shook her, because she's not used to that many goals being scored on her," Ruggiero said.

Nevertheless, Harvard junior goalie Crystal Springer had nothing but praise for her Brown counterpart.

"She works well with her team, and she keeps them in every game," Springer said. "She's been leading the league in stats for the two years I've been in it, and there's nothing bad you can say about her."

The Crimson has not gotten this far based solely on offense, however. Springer has a 20-1-0 record and is third in the country in goals against at 1.54 goals per game. She has a .927 save average, good for fourth in the nation, and the team's scoring defense is fourth at 1.69 goals per game.

And in stark contrast to Harvard, Brown is paced by junior forward Jordan Jiskra, who is tied for 27th nationally in scoring with 16 goals and 20 assists. Mounsey, the Bears' second-leading scorer, is third amongst all defensemen with 12 goals and 23 assists.

"I would say one of their strengths offensively is that you don't know who their big shooters are," Springer said. "When a team plays us, they'll gear up for our first line, but you have to stay so focused on Brown's lineup because they know they all need to produce in order for them to be successful."

Springer, who missed time this season with a collarbone injury, rounded back into form last weekend at Providence, where she was named to the All-ECAC Tournament team.

"I definitely hit a midseason groove that was disrupted," she said. "This past weekend is the best I've played since I've been back, and that's promising. I hope the team can build on that, too."