"We've got a lot of great kids," Stone said. "I was sitting there thinking in the third period at a play stoppage that I love this team because every kid's a player, and that's the first time we've had that in seven years."

In the scoreless first period, only Harvard's top line managed to produce consistent offensive pressure, as the Crimson outshot Brown 15-7. Harvard was so dominant that Crimson line changes were the only time when the Bears were able to sustain any kind of puck control during the period. Harvard's best scoring chance of the period came on a delayed penalty, when Notman drew a cross-check from Brown winger Kathleen Kauth. On the play, Botterill had a clean shot at a loose puck just a yard outside the net, but a bad bounce caused her to whiff.

Senior Tara Dunn, playing in her first game since sustaining a concussion in practice, became Harvard's newest addition to the defense. It was the first game she had ever played at the blueline. Early in the first period, she cut-off speedy Brown center Kim Insalaco on a near-breakaway.

"Tara Dunn made such a difference in our game today," Stone said. "She was the difference. We controlled the defensive zone more than we have in any other game. She's smart, she sees the entire ice, and she's an offensive threat too. She just might find a home there."

The first period was uneventful for Ruddock until the final three minutes, when Harvard coughed up the puck in its own end. Brown center Meredith Ostrander took a shot from point-blank range marked for an open part of the net, but the Harvard netminder was able to dive down and knock the puck away with her pads.

Harvard will look to build on last night's victory at No. 4 St. Lawrence on Saturday. The Saints are coming off of a tie at No. 1 Dartmouth and will be looking to avenge a 7-3 thrashing at the hands of the Crimson in the ECAC Quarterfinals last season.