Sophomore MINA PELL had two goals against Princeton this weekend.

The Harvard women’s hockey team’s 15 goal explosion in weekend victories over Yale, 8-2, and Princeton, 7-1, did not move the Crimson up to fourth place, but it did send a message to the Tigers, who will host the Crimson in next weekend’s best-of-three ECAC North quarterfinals.

The weekend doubleheader marked the final home games for seniors Alison Kuusisto and Vanessa Bazzochi. The weekend was highlighted, however, by the number one line of freshman left winger Nicole Corriero, junior center Kalen Ingram and sophomore right winger Mina Pell racking up 18 points, including eight goals. Freshman winger Kat Sweet joined Corriero and Ingram on the powerplay, contributing with four goals and an assist of her own.

Harvard 7, Princeton 1

The Princeton lineup includes defender and captain and Aviva Grumet-Morris, sister to Harvard men’s freshman goalie Dov, and sophomore forward Lisa Rasmussen, Pell’s childhood friend from Washington, D.C. Nonetheless, the Tigers’ welcome to Bright Hockey Center was hardly friendly, as the Crimson put forth a 39 shot barrage in the 7-1 rout.

“I have a lot of animosity towards Princeton,” Corriero said. “I’m not exactly sure why. Maybe it’s because they beat us earlier in the year.”

Harvard’s strategy was even more aggressive than usual, wth Crimson attackers crashing the net, literally.

Ingram opened the scoring in the first period after a collision involving herself, Tiger’s senior defenceman Wanda Mason and sophomore goalie Megan Van Beusekom. Ingram got a stick on the puck and popped it up in the air and over Van Beukesom’s shoulder for the goal.

Kuusisto, playing in her final home game, had a much easier time in net, losing her shutout bid with just a minute left in the game.

“It feels good to come up with a big win like that,” a teary Kuusisto said after the game. “It’s a great way to end my career, on a big high. I’m going to miss this team.”

Bazzochi, a three-year Harvard player who walked onto the team sophomore year, made her last game at Bright one of her best.

“Tears, tears,” the senior forward said. “But [the season] is not over yet.”

It was all business in the Crimson’s dismantling of the Tiger defense.

“It was important that we came out strong right off the bat,” Harvard Coach Katey Stone said. “It was clearly emotional out there, and by taking control right away right away, we took that element out of it.”

Harvard dominated the first period despite scoring only once, 18 minutes in to the game. The Crimson returned from the intermission even more agrressive, refusing to give Van Beusekom a break.

Crimson freshman winger Ali Crum scored on a weak shot after a minute and a half. Thirty seconds later junior center Tracy Catlin collided with Van Beusekom, setting up a goal for linemate Kat Sweet.