A day late and a goal short, the Harvard Women's Hockey fell to Minnesota, 3-2, at Bright Hockey Center yesterday.

With a replacement zamboni successfully secured from a nearby Massachusetts District Commission ice rink, Bright Arena was back in business as the Crimson hosted the Golden Gophers in the makeup to Sunday afternoon's postponed game.

The Crimson dressed only 14 players, while Minnesota fielded 20, and the extra bodies gave the Gophers the advantage in the game's decisive third period.

The back and forth affair featured a strong effort by the Crimson and a good deal of physical play.

"This team played great, I'm so proud of their effort," said Harvard Coach Katey Stone.

The Crimson tallied the game's first goal at 11:13 of the first period when captain Angie Francisco shot the puck past Minnesota goalie Erica Killewald. Leftwing Tara Dunn and rightwing Kiirsten Suurkask assisted Francisco on the tally. The goal came on a Crimson power play after Minnesota's Bethany Petersen was called for intereferece at 9:55.

"Dunn dropped the puck to me, and I cut across in front of the net," Francisco said. "I just tried to flick it in, Dunn and Suurkask crashed the net, and I don't think Killewald even saw it."

The Crimson held onto the 1-0 lead through the rest of the period. Harvard outshot Minnesota 11-10 in the first frame and took advantage of two Minnesota penalties, one leading directly to Francisco's goal.