After a tentative start and ten scoreless minutes to open last night’s Beanpot opening-round collision with Northeastern, it was Harvard’s unheralded third line that got it on track.

This is an unusual source of offense for the Crimson, which normally relies on its potent first line for much of the scoring punch.

On this night, though, the unit found its rhythm, with sophomore Katie Johnston setting up junior Jennifer Raimondi for Harvard’s first two goals and also assisting on the center’s short-handed hat-trick tally in the second period.

The unexpected burst nearly doubled Raimondi’s season goal total (and Johnston’s assist total) from four to seven, and raised expectations for the unit––which includes freshman Adrienne Bernakevitch––going forward.

“Today was just a whole line effort all the way through,” Raimondi said. “Today is a step in the right direction.”

SITTING ON THE BEANPOT

Harvard, the six-time defending champion in the local Beanpot Tournament, has clearly established its dominance in the event in recent years. But things were not always this way.

Last night’s opening round victim Northeastern once reigned supreme, winning 14 overall titles and eight in a row from 1984-1991. The Huskies eliminated the Crimson from the tournament three years in a row during their 1996-1998 three-peat, including a narrow 5-4 in the 1998 championship game.

From that point on, the balance of power in the Cup changed decisively. Harvard hasn’t lost in the event since that 1998 final, and exacted its revenge over Northeastern by sending them packing in overtime in each of the four following years.

“Northeastern has been a hockey powerhouse,” Stone said. “It won’t be long before they turn it around. We’ve been very fortunate the last few years that things are going well for us. It goes in waves.”

The struggling Huskies are still in the trough, freshly evidenced by last night’s 9-1 drubbing, the most lopsided result in the history of the meeting. The significance of the Boston rivalry is not lost on the team’s tri-captain Nicole Corriero.

“You don’t appreciate it as much until you’ve spent the time in Boston,” Corriero said. “You realize the significance the Beanpot has in the hockey world.”

KAZMAIER AWARD HOPEFULS