“One of the things I think I’m most pleased about is how well our returning players came back in shape,” Stone says. “They were in great condition and really took our words to heart. [They] put a lot of responsibility on themselves to get in the best possible condition.”

With its roster ready to go, the Crimson can now focus on the finer points of play as it faces an ever-improving group of ECAC teams.

Cornell, a team that surprised everyone by winning the ECAC and making a run all the way to the national championship game in 2010, is even stronger this season with an added year’s experience for its young stars and the return of Olympic gold medalist Rebecca Johnston. But the conference has more parity than ever before, with new forces like Quinnipiac and Clarkson challenging perennial powerhouses St. Lawrence, Harvard, and Dartmouth—a team that didn’t even make the ECAC playoff cut last season.

“Every team is good, so good,” Stone says. “[You’ve] got to have structure to what you’re trying to do and be able to show up every night. If you don’t show up, you’re going to have trouble, and you’re going to get stung.”

The nonconference slate isn’t any easier for the Crimson, as it travels to Minnesota and faces a host of top local teams. But with a healthy squad of new and returning talent, Harvard is ready to take on this year’s challenging schedule of opponents.

—Staff writer Madeleine Smith can be reached at smith21@college.harvard.edu.