Luckily for Harvard, the fact that this NCAA tournament likely marks the final games of Corriero’s career means she’s that much more intent on team play—because with winning, she extends her playing career for another day.

Corriero plans to attend law school after graduating from Harvard. This season has done nothing short of fully preparing her for a legal career. After all, one important lesson in the legal world is that even the most convincing of arguments, supported by irrefutable evidence, does not always sway the jury to your cause.

The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is women’s hockey’s equivalent of the Hobey Baker Award and the Heisman Trophy, recognizing “the accomplishments of the most outstanding player in women’s intercollegiate varsity ice hockey each season.” It’s hard to believe that this season, Harvard’s No. 9 has not been the most outstanding player.

Corriero has said that she herself could not in good conscience remove any of the final three Kazmaier finalists—Natalie Darwitz, Caroline Oullette, and Krissy Wendell—in order to put herself on the final list.

And in truth, each of the three has had an amazing season in her own respective way.

But their cases have been made and USA Hockey has already made its verdict.

Saturday night simply reminded us of the case for Corriero.

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