The Crimson has been playing at a high level offensively since co-captain Jennifer Botterill and senior winger Tammy Shewchuk returned from the Canadian National Team. Harvard currently has half of the ECAC's top six scorers in Shewchuk (6 goals, 15 assists), Botterill (13 g, 7 a) and Francisco (5 g, 14 a). Harvard is second in the conference in scoring at 4.55 goals a game.

In addition to boasting those three scoring leaders, Harvard Coach Katey Stone has made the most of her short bench. For example, sophomore winger Tracy Catlin--who skates on the second line along with Francisco and sophomore Kalen Ingram--has three points in the Crimson's last three games.

"We have been developing nicely on offense," Stone said. "It has been important to have everyone out on the ice recently. We're not playing our best hockey yet, but we've been playing good hockey and that's a great place to start."

Minnesota-Duluth is playing good hockey as well. The Bulldogs are 4-1-1 in their last six games and have not lost at home since Oct. 20. UMD has the best scoring offense in the WCHA, averaging 5.06 points a game.

Beyond that, the Bulldogs also have an advantage in the element of surprise.

"In the ECAC, teams don't really scare us," Francisco said. "We know our opponents and what we're up against. But none of us has ever played UMD. We know they're talented, but we won't know a lot about them until we step on the ice."

What the Crimson does know is that the Bulldogs have multiple players with experience in international competition. At the forward spots, sophomores Maria Rooth (15 g, 18 a), Hanne Sikio (16 g, 12 a) and Erika Holst (9 g, 15 a) are all among the top 10 scorers in the WCHA.