Junior Liza Ryabkina, shown here in earlier action, scored a power-play goal to put the Crimson ahead in the second period of Friday’s matchup against Clarkson. The Golden Knights went on to win the game, 3-2, and advanced to the ECAC title game. Despite the loss, Harvard earned the No. 4 seed and home-ice advantage in the NCAA Tournament.

Another year, another conference semifinal nailbiter. And unfortunately for the No. 4 Harvard women’s hockey team, it was left looking at a 3-2 loss for the second year in a row.

The Crimson (20-7-5) surrendered a late-game goal to end its bid for an ECAC tournament title Friday night, as No. 6 Clarkson (23-11-5) skated away with the win at Cheel Arena.

Golden Knight Gabrielle Kosziwka found the back of the net with 2:07 to play to send her Clarkson squad to its first-ever conference championship.

“It was a great hockey game just to be a part of,” junior Kate Buesser said. “It’s really tough that we came out on the losing end, because I know everyone worked really hard and put a lot of effort in.”

With a trip to the ECAC finals on the line—and important NCAA implications for both teams—Harvard and the Golden Knights both had trouble getting settled in the game’s opening minutes.

The Crimson got the first shot on goal just under three minutes in, but Clarkson netminder Lauren Dahm made the easy save. And although Harvard held the Golden Knights shotless for the first six minutes of the game, Clarkson capitalized on its first opportunity.

Daris Tendler took a pass from Juana Baribeau high in the slot and launched the puck towards the net. Though Crimson rookie goalie Laura Bellamy was in position for the save, the shot deflected off her glove and into the back of the net.

Harvard was only narrowly outshot in the first frame, 6-5, but it skated into the break facing a 1-0 deficit.

“In the first [period]...everyone was kind of holding their stick a little bit too tight,” Buesser said. “Just the atmosphere—playing in a big arena with a lot of people there.”

But when the puck dropped to start the second period, the Crimson team responded with renewed energy.

Though the Golden Knight defense held up to Harvard’s early pressure—including a key stop from Dahm on a shot off the stick of senior Randi Griffin—Buesser broke through nine minutes into the frame.

In the midst of a line change, Buesser charged the net and tipped in a pass from freshman Josephine Pucci to even the score at one. Junior Deborah Conway was credited with the secondary assist.

“The line in front of me had been working really well,” Buesser explained. “Pucci just made a beautiful pass through everyone, and it was a little bit in front of me, so I had to throw my stick out there.”

With the game tied and the Crimson in control, Clarkson resorted to sloppy defense.

“We came out and played our game and were on our toes,” Harvard coach Katey Stone said. “As a result, we drew some penalties and capitalized on a power play.”