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Harvard women's hockey (2-2, 0-2 ECAC) ended its two-game win streak this weekend — falling to No. 5 ranked Cornell (4-0, 2-0 ECAC) and going 5-0 to No. 9 ranked Colgate (4-4, 1-1 ECAC).

Harvard 2, Cornell 5

Harvard came into its first ECAC match against Cornell with a vengeance after a 1-6 loss the previous season.

Both teams played a tight-checking first period, with neither squad able to establish consistent offense at first. Cornell eventually opened up the game, with Big Red senior forward Georgia Schiff putting her team up 1-0 with a backhand deke at 12:44.

Cornell extended its lead to 2-0 not long after. Big Red sophomore center Lindzi Avar scored in tight on Crimson freshman goaltender Izzy Whynot, who made her collegiate debut. Despite outshooting Cornell 13-6, the Crimson found itself down two goals by the end of the first frame.

Early into the second period, the Crimson suffered an unfortunate injury scare, with freshman defenseman Alex Paulsen going hard into the defensive zone boards. Paulsen was helped off the ice and did not return to the game.

Cornell continued its strong execution, with Big Red senior defensemen Sarah MacEachern beating Whynot by roofing the puck short-side. Harvard struggled to break through Cornell’s perimeter defense, which stifled the Crimson’s opportunities.

Harvard finally lit the lamp at 16:34, with sophomore forward Emily Hamann batting in the rebound of sophomore forward Ella Lucia’s shot. The Big Red retaliated quickly with aggression of their own, returning the scoreboard to a three-goal lead after senior Avi Adam got the puck past Whynot.

The Crimson struggled with passing plays for the duration of the period, leaving the second period down 4-1.

Not disheartened by the disadvantage, Harvard entered the final third of the game with renewed vigor. One minute and 39 seconds in, Crimson freshman defenseman Emi Biotti scored her first career goal by rifling the puck into the top corner past Bergmann, inching Harvard closer at 4-2.

Two Cornell penalties gave Harvard a 5-on-3 power play, and the Crimson generated numerous scoring chances to no avail on the scoresheet. Backed by saves from Whynot, Harvard hung in the game through much of the third period.

However, Big Red freshman forward Nora Curtis stunted the Crimson’s momentum by chopping a rebound over Whynot to make it 5-2 with 4:39 left. Head coach Laura Bellamy pulled the goaltender for a 6-on-5 advantage with three minutes left in the game, looking for a spark. Crimson freshman center Morgan McGathey was called for hooking not long after, though, effectively icing the game. After re-entering the net, Whynot ended the third period strong with multiple saves on Cornell’s top power play unit.

Harvard 0, Colgate 5

Harvard entered its game against the Colgate Raiders on Saturday looking to rebound. The matchup was the “Pink at the Rink” Breast Cancer Awareness Game, where a portion of ticket proceeds were donated to the Hoffman Breast Center at Mount Auburn Hospital. Paulsen was scratched after her injury sustained on Friday.

Only a couple minutes into the first period, the Raiders struck first to make it 1-0. Sophomore defenseman Jaimee Spring flung a shot from the point, and the puck deflected off multiple players before sliding past Crimson senior goaltender Emily Davidson.

Colgate built momentum from their opening tally and Harvard’s pace started to falter. The Crimson was eventually caught making a line change, and Raiders freshman forward Emma Beauchamp potted a goal all alone in the crease to extend Colgate’s lead to 2-0. However, after an official video review, the goal was overturned and the deficit returned to one.

The Crimson had three consecutive power plays to start the second period but was unable to convert. However, Raiders junior forward Emma Pais executed for Colgate to make it 2-0.

The deficit for Harvard only grew. In only 28 seconds, Raiders senior forwards Elyssa Biederman and Alexis Petford each tallied goals to quickly make it 4-0. By the end of the middle frame, Harvard was outshooting Colgate 25-22 yet had nothing to show for it.

Early in the third period, the Crimson was the beneficiaries of another three Colgate penalties, but could not find the back of the net.

During a Raiders power play, the Crimson was hit by the injury bug again, as junior defenseman Kaley MacDonald had to be helped off the ice. In the meantime, Colgate junior defenseman Avery Pickering triumphed over Davidson, putting the score at 5-0. For the remainder of the game, Harvard was unable to respond, resulting in an opposing shutout.

In four games this season, the Crimson have gone 0-for-19 on the power play, highlighting a potential area for improvement. Still, Harvard’s penalty kill has been largely successful, going 7-for-8 over the same stretch.

—Staff writer Bianca Egan can be reached at bianca.egan@thecrimson.com.