Sophomore forward Carrie Schroyer battles for the puck amid a frenzy of Cornell skaters during Harvard's two-game sweep of the Big Red in the ECAC quarterfinals this weekend.
With eight seconds remaining in their final game at Bright Hockey Center, three seniors skated together.
After a whistle brought the puck down to Harvard’s zone for a faceoff, co-captain Lauren McAuliffe prepared to skate off, ending her final shift on home ice.
Instead, with a three-goal cushion, Crimson coach Katey Stone told her to go back out, sending fellow senior Mina Pell with her to join the final member of the senior triumvirate, co-captain Angela Ruggiero.
McAuliffe filled in at the circle, ready to square off one last time.
In a fitting end to a marvelous home-ice career for all three players, McAuliffe won the draw, knocking the puck to Pell on the wing. Ruggiero took control of the puck and passed it back and forth with her teammates in Harvard’s own zone as time winded down to victory, until the trio heard Bright’s buzzer sound as players one last time.
“It’s bittersweet,” Stone said. “It was great to have them all on the ice at the end of the game. They have done so much for our program, in many many different ways.”
Stone’s gesture didn’t go unappreciated.
“It’s a good way to end it. Home-ice advantage, last time playing at the Bright. To go out together is pretty nice,” McAuliffe said, as a smile lifted her head from a downward gaze used to conceal her feelings.
Still, the visibly emotional Crimson co-captain couldn’t let the sentimental side of the game get the better of her competitive edge.
“We did what we needed to do to come out with a win. That’s all that really matters,” McAuliffe said.
BULLDOGS AND TIGERS AND BEARS
In ECAC action, No. 9 Princeton’s top line—seniors Lisa Rasmussen and Gretchen Anderson and sophomore Heather Jackson—did all it could to extend its season for one more game, creating and holding a two-goal lead most of the Saturday’s contest over No. 10 Brown.
But the fifth-seeded Tigers couldn’t hold off a late Brown comeback, falling 3-2 in overtime of the second and deciding game. Bears’ junior Jessica Link—who also provided the game-tying goal—scored the game-winner at 8:56 in the extra period.
Brown will now be Harvard’s opponent in the ECAC Semifinals.
“We played them two close games [earlier this season],” Stone said. “Our kids should have no problem getting up for that one.”
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