With only senior Jamie Notman (1 g, 2 a) and sophomore Pam Van Reesema (0 g, 2 a) available on defense, the Crimson will have to play some of its forwards on the blueline. Stone said Botterill and seniors Tammy Shewchuk, Kiirsten Suurkask, and Tara Dunn have been practicing at both forward and defense in the preseason.

"We don't have as many defensemen as in the past," Botterill said. "So it's good to have some people in backup positions. I am hoping to become a better overall player so I can help the team on defense as needed."

Botterill frequently moved to the blueline last year in special-teams situations, and Shewchuk took shifts as a defenseman her freshman year. The key to playing both the front and back lines will be adjusting to the different approaches of each position.

"The only difference between forward and defense is that you skate backwards a little more," Shewchuk said. "You have to play defense in every zone anyway. I like to think of myself as an offensive threat, but now I also have to think of myself as a defensive threat."

The Harvard roster is still full of offensive threats, not the least of which is Shewchuk (34 g, 40 a), who led the ECAC in scoring last season despite playing in just 25 games. Harvard's other high-scoring winger is sophomore Kalen Ingram (11 g, 19 a), who joined Hagerman on the ECAC All-Rookie Team last year.

The Crimson offense will also benefit from co-captains Botterill and Angie Francisco, who have very different skills but efficiently get the job done around the net.

Botterill (31 g, 31 a), the ECAC Player of the Year last season, is the most versatile player in the country--she can stick-handle and dish and shoot from anywhere in the offensive zone. Francisco (14 g, 36 a), who finished sixth in the league in scoring last year, is incredibly aggressive around the crease and will find a way to tip the puck and light the lamp.