The competition between the two goalies for Harvard’s starting spot forced Boe to step up and shine when she played. Boe has started nine of Harvard’s first 13 contests—including all six Crimson matches against top-10 opponents.

“We didn’t get a chance to see Boe play much last year, because Jess [Ruddock] played in all the big games,” said junior winger Nicole Corriero. “I wasn’t surprised, but she’s definitely exceeded my expectations.”

Thus far in the season, Boe’s play has produced some remarkable stats. She leads the league in save percentage at .961, allowing only six goals while making 148 saves. She also holds the nation’s top spot for goals against average with a mark of 0.66 in 545 minutes of play. And only Minnesota’s goalie, Jody Horrick, joins Boe in the undefeated category.

To date, Boe has yet to lose a game while donning a Harvard uniform.

Attributing Harvard’s early success and its best start in program history in part to Boe is a huge understatement, though the goalie cannot bear all of the credit.

“Even the forwards are getting back and playing more defensive roles,” Boe said. “We’re focusing on only letting a team get one shot off and then getting control of the rebound.” Both of us [Boe and Vitt] know we need to stop the first shot and the defense will take care of the rest.”

Harvard’s defense has provided the consistency and skill necessary to keep both Boe and Vitt confident in goal. That confidence has translated into seven shutouts out of Harvard’s 12 wins.

“I think kids feel like they have a lot to prove,” Stone said of the team earlier this season. “It’s nice to have been able to have such a great experience from last year’s national championship, to say, ‘This is where you want to be. Now how are you going to get there, work back from that?’”

Boe’s experience as a back-up goalie last season has given her the perspective to realize the effort necessary to take a team to the Frozen Four. If she maintains her confidence and continues to play the way she has, Harvard’s dreams of another chance for the national championship are certain to become realities.

—Staff writer John R. Hein can be reached at hein@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer David H. Stearns can be reached at stearns@fas.harvard.edu.