“I definitely play better when it’s a tough physical match and so today was fun,” she said. “They couldn’t catch us so I think they were trying to knock us over.”

Ruggiero’s first goal, the only score in the first period, came on the power play at 8:32 off a deflection from Botterill, who tallied one goal and five assists on the night. Chu finished the game with a goal and two assists.

Harvard just missed scoring double digits in goals for the third time this season by about a second.

The referee called two penalties on Harvard in the last minute, yet despite the two-man disadvantage, Botterill and Chu still broke out on odd-man rush in the final seconds. Botterill’s shot beat Thibideau just after the clock expired.

For the final insult, sophomore Kelly Zamora checked Botterill from behind as she skated back.

Harvard travels on the road again this weekend, at Yale Friday and at No. 9 Princeton on Saturday. The Crimson will have to play both games without the nation’s leading scorer, Botterill, who will be absent for Canadian national team tryouts.