For an example of the depth Ruggiero was talking about look no further than the net, where sophomore Ali Boe and freshman Emily Vitt will duel for the starting job.

Each looks to fill the shoes of senior Jessica Ruddock, last year’s starter, who was forced to retire from the game prematurely due to a knee injury that precipitated an injury to an already damaged hip.

Despite this loss, the team seems optimistic about having either Boe or Vitt between the pipes.

“So far, I’m not concerned about our goaltending,” Stone says. “Goaltending is going to be solid and steady.”

In a preseason scrimmage against archrival Dartmouth on Oct. 23, each goalie gave up two goals in an equal amount of time, though Boe saw more action on the ice.

“I have absolute confidence in both Vitt and Boe,” says co-captain Lauren McAuliffe. “They’re both great goalies; that’s not going to be a question this year. Whoever plays, I’m going to be happy.”

Boe saw limited action last year in 11 games, posting a 4-0-0 record with a .917 save percentage and an impressive 0.90 goals against average.

But Boe posted those numbers behind a stellar Harvard defense that included Jamie Hagerman ’03 and Pamela Van Reesema ’03, who graduated last year.

“Defensively, we’re going have to be much sharper,” Stone says. “There will be more pressure on us than in the past, simply because there will not be as large a goal margin as there was in the past.”

In addition to a healthy rotation, depth is once again the key to the Crimson’s success.

“Obviously losing two veteran defenseman in Hagerman and Van Reesema, that’s tough, and so there’re some holes to fill,” Stone says. “However, we have the best defenseman in the world playing for us, as well as some other really terrific kids.”

Ruggiero and junior Ashley Banfield cannot be expected to hold the fort on their own.

The Crimson defense will rely on sophomores Jennifer Skinner and Abra Kinkopf and junior Emily Haigh to step up and fill in for the departed blue-liners.

Stone also hopes to use freshman Lindsay Weaver in the mix.

“We don’t have as much depth in that position as we did before so we have to stay healthy,” she cautions.