In true Harvard style, the co-captains of the 2003-2004 women’s ice hockey team are more than qualified for the task of leading this year’s squad.

Senior defenseman Angela Ruggiero, one of college hockey’s most experienced and decorated athletes, pairs with classmate forward Lauren McAuliffe, who brings her own share of experience and a contagious personality to the rink.

The Heart of the Defense

Ruggiero returns to the helm after serving as one of the four co-captains of last year’s national runner-up team.

“Angela is the best defenseman in the world,” McAuliffe says. “On the ice she’s such a great example. I’ll look and just watch the other defenders watching her and seeing what she does.”

Ruggiero has also played an integral part in anchoring Harvard’s defense for the three years she has skated for the Crimson.

“I think Ruggiero is the most exciting player to watch overall because of the things that she can do,” says Harvard coach Katey Stone.

“I’d see freshman last year try to mimic her style a bit because she knows the game so well,” McAuliffe says. “She’s so good at it, and they have so much to learn from her. It’s kind of like how Jen Botterill [’02-’03] was as a forward. I could always watch her in the drill in front of me and be like “OK, that’s how it’s done, I’ll try to do that.””

“Her athletic resume is incredible,” Stone says.

That just might be a bit of an understatement.

After her first three seasons at Harvard, Ruggiero holds the school record for most points by a defenseman (198) as well as in a single season (83). She has also been nominated for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the most valuable player in the league every year.

But her accolades and impressive statistics are not the reason she’s the Crimson’s co-captain for the second year in a row. Nothing is as precious as the hockey experience she brings to the team.

The 23-year old blue-liner took two years off between her sophomore and junior years to train full time with the U.S. Women’s National Team and compete in the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“Age definitely helps being a captain, as does experience,” Ruggiero says. “I spent two years of my life completely devoted to hockey, so I have some experience in what it takes [to succeed] and in dedication.”

Ruggiero hasn’t always been the team sage; she’s seen it from both sides. At 18 years old, she was the youngest member of the 1998 Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. women’s hockey team in Nagano, Japan.