Some hockey games are dramatic, hinging on key penalties and last-minute heroics. For the Harvard women’s hockey team, Friday night’s win was not one of those games—but the Crimson’s not complaining.
No. 6 Harvard (10-4-4, 8-4-2 ECAC) dominated from whistle to whistle, blanking conference bottom-dweller Union (5-19-1, 1-11-1), 4-0, at Bright Hockey Center.
“We used a lot of people, we got better as the game went on,” Crimson coach Katey Stone said. “Our puck protection was real good, our transition game was excellent today, and I’m pleased with how we played.”
Junior Liza Ryabkina scored a pair of goals and freshman Laura Bellamy—starting in place of injured senior Christina Kessler—made 13 saves for her first career shutout.
“It’s [Bellamy’s] first win, so everybody was extremely excited for her,” Ryabkina said. “It was really important for us as a team.”
Harvard outshot the Dutchwomen, 53-13, for the game, while accumulating just two penalties to Union’s seven.
One of those Dutchwoman penalties set the stage for the Crimson’s first goal.
Union’s Kayleigh Melia went to the box for hitting after the whistle with just under five minutes to play in the first period, and Harvard didn’t take long to capitalize.
Co-captain Cori Bassett fed the puck to freshman Jillian Dempsey, who in turn crossed it to junior Leanna Coskren left of the goal. Coskren’s one-timer hit the back of the net just 17 seconds into the power play.
Through its seven power plays on the night, Harvard racked up 15 shots.
“We changed up our power play a week ago, and I think we’re getting some pretty good chemistry going,” Stone said. “We’re getting good looks at the net, and that’s the key to any power play—finding kids [in] underneath seams…We’ve got to bury a few more, but we will.”
Though the Crimson would have plenty of power-play chances through the game, it failed to score again with the man advantage—including through 49 seconds of 5-on-3 play in the second period.
“We could have scored more,” Ryabkina admitted.
In fact, the Dutchwomen’s best scoring chance of the night came with Harvard on the power play. Though Union’s Lauren Hoffman was whistled for bodychecking, an icing call on the Crimson set up a faceoff in its defensive zone.
The Dutchwomen won the faceoff and ripped off a quick shot that hit the left pipe and skirted wide.
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