Call it a simple chemistry experiment.

There was a lot of pressure for last season’s Harvard women’s hockey team, touted as the most talented squad Katey Stone had ever coached. It was supposed to win it all. The Crimson had an explosive offense. It had a hot goalie. Its defense was solid.

But a devastating 4-3 double-overtime loss to Minnesota-Duluth in the NCAA championship cooled the reaction right when Harvard’s play had reached its climax.

Mix into the equation the graduation of five top seniors and most observers didn’t expect a repeat performance by the Crimson this season.

But on the Bulldogs’ game-winning tally, something happened that went unobserved by many outside of the Harvard circle.

Co-captains Lauren McAuliffe and Angela Ruggiero—then both juniors— made an attempt to stop Nora Tallus’ game-winning shot. Ruggiero slid across the ice to block the puck with her leg, while McAuliffe stayed high, hoping to block it with her shoulder or side. But the puck found its way through the pair, and Harvard went home vanquished.

Since that game, McAuliffe and Ruggiero have been working to find the winning formula.

Considering Harvard emerged the regular-season and ECAC-tournament champions, the duo hasn’t done a bad job guiding this experiment so far.

“We didn’t have to rely on our chemistry as much last year because we had the best talent in the country,” Ruggiero said. “I say this year [we have] those little intangible things that really bring a team together. You can’t really create it, but we just have it this year. Therefore it’s elevated our game.”

IT’S NO SACRIFICE

What’s changed for the Crimson this season? For starters, selfless play has led to wins for the team.

If you compare the team’s stats this year to last season, overall scoring is down a bit, as a few individuals have sacrificed their scoring-sheet stats for the good of the team.

“Last year, maybe it limited us that there were three big scorers on the team—Julie Chu, myself and Jennifer Botterill [’03].” Ruggiero said. “My numbers have gone down, Chuey’s have gone down, but everyone else has gone up.”

Last season, Chu posted 93 points, while Ruggiero scored 83. Botterill led all Harvard scorers with 112.

“We’ve spread out the offensive power. Everyone’s sort of stepped up to the plate so that means if I’m having a bad game, someone else will step up to the plate,” Ruggiero added. “If I’m marked or if [Chu’]s marked—now Nicole [Corriero]’s had a stellar year as well.”