The No. 3 Harvard women’s hockey team has seen a solid start to what promises to be an exciting new season.

The Crimson traveled to Hamden, Conn., last Friday, returning with a 2-1 victory against Quinnipiac. Although it’s only the first game of the season, the win against the Bobcats is one to remember. Harvard was down 1-0 at the start of the third period and wasn’t quite its dominant self.

“We came out a little tentative…It was the first game of the season, it took us a little while to get it together,” tri-captain Jenny Brine said.

As the chances of a win were slipping away, and time was ticking in the third period, sophomore Kate Buesser stepped up and set out to seal the deal for victory.

Buesser managed to tie the game at one just over two minutes into the third period. An unassisted wrist shot flew past the Bobcat goalie, who would again see Buesser’s talent in the last two minutes of the game.

After an attempted wraparound shot from behind the Quinnipiac net, junior forward Randi Griffin left the puck open on the goal line. Buesser swooped in to slam the puck into the Bobcats’ net, scoring the game-winning goal for Harvard.

This isn’t the first time Buesser has turned the game around in the clutch. As a freshman, Buesser helped the squad secure the ECAC regular-season title, scoring the game-winning goal in the last five minutes of a 3-1 victory against Princeton.

Buesser exemplifies the level-headedness and ruthless determination the Crimson needs to come out on top this season. Last year after finishing a near-flawless season with an overall 32-2-0 record, and going undefeated at home, Harvard let it all go at crunch-time: the national semifinals.

It’s refreshing to see such a young player stepping up early. Buesser’s burst of talent and game-winning tactics in the opening game recall the talent of the likes of tri-captains Jenny Brine and Sarah Vaillancourt.

“I think we are definitely similar players in our grinding mentality, always giving 100 percent,” Brine said. “[I can] for sure see her as a future leader.”

While Buesser played a solid third quarter, one can only wonder if she can keep up the pace for the rest of the season.

“We are expecting her to be consistent,” head coach Katey Stone said. “She played great. She is a tough competitor and she is one of those kids that is always ready to go and does what it takes.”

Buesser has had a hot start to her sophomore season, beginning with a goal in an exhibition match against McGill on Oct. 25. Her impressive offensive performance continued at Quinnipiac.

“She gets better all the time,” Stone said. “She is very versatile. Her competitiveness and intensity is a strength. She is always working on her shot, [and] that’s something she is getting a lot better at.”

Buesser has come a long way since freshman year.

“She is really ready to go [and] she has experience under her belt [now]… its going to be a great year,” Brine said.

While it’s still early, Buesser’s performance is surely a testament to the Crimson’s strength. Buesser’s performance against the Bobcats earned her a spot in the starting lineup against Princeton last Saturday, where Harvard dominated, 6-4.

While it’s not unusual for a sophomore to contribute on a team stocked with young talent, Buesser just might be poised for her break-out season.

“She really got stronger and stronger as [last] season went on,” Stone said before the season started. “Now she’s got a full year under her belt and what she’s expecting from herself and what we’re hoping she’ll give us is a little bit more than last year.”

When the Crimson takes the ice on Friday against Rensselaer, you can bet Buesser will set out to prove herself once again.