Without as much experience, Cahow is trading on innate talent and instinct.

“She can stop balls,” Noon said. “Even though she doesn’t have as much training, she’s really able to predict where the ball’s going to be.”

When her now-fellow lacrosse players talk about her, though, they talk as much about her “spark” as her speed and dexterity. She has the edge of a hockey player, and she carries it into practice.

“With the hockey team in general, there’s a much higher level of competition in practice. We expect the best from each other at all times...With lacrosse, there are more players, which makes it difficult to have fierce, tough competition continuously for practice,” Cahow said. “That’s something I can be helpful with.”

By her own estimation, Cahow’s contribution this season will be largely to practice as Demorest returns to wellness. The hockey team will not begrudge her choice to spend time outdoors and in front of a goal.

“I take hockey very seriously, as do my teammates and coaches. It was important to me that I discuss this with my teammates and coaches,” Cahow said. “The overwhelming response was very supportive.”

The ice hockey coaching staff is understandably understanding, as Cahow’s crossover follows in something of a tradition of overlap between Harvard’s ice hockey and lacrosse programs. While an undergraduate at the University of New Hampshire, ice hockey head coach Katey Stone was captain of, and a four-year letterman for, both its hockey and lacrosse teams. Twice an All-American lacrosse player, she helped lead the Wildcats to their 1985 national championship. Ice hockey assistant coaches Claudia Asano ‘99 and Jamie Hagerman ‘03 should be able to empathize as well. Both split their significant time spent in Allston between hockey and lacrosse. Hagerman came to Harvard as a two-sport athlete, but an ACL tear her sophomore year forced her to stick with hockey, while Asano was a three-year letter-winner in both.

And when the Crimson faced off against Stone’s alma mater, her loyalties fell to Cahow.

“I got a message on my phone this morning from Katey Stone telling me to take it to UNH,” Cahow said.

The support between the programs is allowing the three-sport high school star to be a double letterman at Harvard.

“I think that the lacrosse team has such amazing potential here I’d love to be a part of it any way possible. As far as the next season, I want to stick with it,” Cahow said. “I’m content with just working hard in practice.”

And with one other goalie on active roster, the lacrosse team is content to have her.

“She was so nice to come and help us out in a bind this year,” Nelson said. “We just will take whatever she can give.”

—Staff writer Samuel C. Scott can be reached at sscott@fas.harvard.edu.