The Crimson feels it has a lot to prove, especially against the Big Green.

"They're good, but we're just as good as they are," Shewchuk said.

Shewchuk, the conference's leading scorer last season, Botterill, last year's ECAC player of the year, and co-captain Angie Francisco provide the Crimson with tremendous scoring power.

"I think one of the best things we did last year was contain their first line," Haggard said. "If you take out Shewchuk and Botterill, it's a much easier team to play against."

In the absence of Shewchuk and Botterill, senior forwards Tara Dunn and Kiirsten Suurkask, along with Francisco, have spearheaded the Harvard attack.

Dunn recorded a hat-trick last Friday against Niagara, and has four points in the young season. Suurkask tallied both goals in the Crimson's 2-1 victory over Niagara last Saturday and has three goals and one assist so far this year. Francisco has recorded three assists and one goal, and is tied with Dunn and Suurkask for the team lead in points with four.

"We will have a lot of extra motivation when we face them," Botterill said. "Our motivation and energy will provide a change from last year."

If the Crimson is to defeat the Big Green on its home ice, Kuusisto and sophomore defenseman Jamie Hagerman must lead the defense and stop a Dartmouth attack that has tallied 24 goals in five games. Kuusisto has posted a 2.34 goals-against-average in three games this season.