Following the precedent set by the women’s heavyweight crew team at last season’s game, the women’s soccer team donned black sports bras and while the players painted their stomachs with the message, “Die, Die Dartmouth,” a showing organized by women’s soccer co-captain Katie Hodel. The team ran into a locker room between periods to stay warm.
Standing on the side bleachers closest to the far-end goal, their place beside the Harvard band presented a formidable cheering block, uniformly cheering the Crimson, encouraging the rest of the fans and heckling the opponent—in particular, Dartmouth goalie Christine Capuano.
“We love the women’s hockey team. We think they’re fantastic,” said band drill master Clark Rosensweig. “I’m hoping after coming out today, this game will ignite people to keep coming back for the rest of the year.”
The crowd came alive in the second period after sophomore Jennifer Raimondi netted the first and lone goal for the Crimson.
“People were going crazy,” Stone said. “That’s Division I college athletics. Let’s just get it to be Division I women’s college hockey. That’s what we’re working on.”
As the game wound down, fans rose from the edge of their seats and stood, holding their breath as shots rang off posts and rushes were stopped.
“I didn’t want anything more than to score in the last 30 seconds and erupt,” Ruggiero said.
Among the game’s other notable attendees included U.S. Women’s National Team coach Ben Smith (who in Friday’s Boston Globe predicted a mere 400 would show for the game) and hockey legend Bobby Orr, who tagged along with men’s hockey junior defenseman Noah Welch. Orr joked that he was giving Welch a break from studying.
“We read the other day the story on Angela, and on Sunday afternoon wanted to see a hockey game,” Orr said. “I’m loving it. It’s been great hockey.”
The former Bruins star also had a bit to say about supporting the women’s team.
“Noah was telling me about the low attendance they’ve been receiving,” Orr remarked. “He also told me about how they’re trying to encourage the fans to come out and support the girls. They really should—it’s great entertainment. I’ll certainly come back. It’s been a great opportunity.”
The Crimson will have to wait until the start of next semester to assess whether or not the rest of the Harvard community seizes the opportunity to watch it journey on the road to the Frozen Four.
—Staff writer John R. Hein can be reached at hein@fas.harvard.edu.