With the goal, the Bears closed the score to 3-2 and the Crimson felt the pressure.

“When we got back in the locker room at the second intermission, we realized what we to do was simplify our game and not try to make fancy plays, not get careless, and not be too cute with the puck,” said junior winger Nicole Corriero. “We executed that game plan well in the third period and played simple but effective Harvard hockey.”

Indeed, the Crimson struck back in the third behind goals from two defensemen, Ruggiero and junior Banfield.

“You’ve got to finish every game [and] you’ve got to play three periods, or the teams we’re going to see from now on are going to be able to try to make comebacks,” McAuliffe said. You can have great first and second periods, but if you don’t finish the third, it doesn’t matter.”

Harvard looks for its eight and ninth straight victories this weekend when it hosts St. Lawrence Friday night at 7 p.m. and Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. at Bright Hockey Center.

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