Seniors steam UNH

A strong outing for Harvard’s seniors propelled the women’s hockey team past New Hampshire, 4-0, on Tuesday night (Dec. 9) at the Bright Hockey Center. Lauren McAuliffe and Angela Ruggiero – two of the team’s three seniors – posted a goal and an assist each as the No. 3 Crimson earned its seventh shutout to stay perfect on the season (11-0-0). The victory extends what was already the program’s best start ever.

The Crimson scored the opening goal at the 13:16 mark of the first period when McAuliffe chipped in classmate Ruggiero’s deflected shot past New Hampshire netminder Melissa Bourdon. With just over a minute remaining in the opening period, the Crimson increased its lead to 2-0 when sophomore Jaclyn Pitushka’s attempted shot from the blue line found teammate Julie Chu ’06 through tons of traffic, who promptly deposited the puck past Bourdon for her fifth goal of the season.

Ruggiero put Harvard up 3-0 at the 13:00 mark of the middle stanza when she ripped a slap shot from the blue line that found its way through Bourdon’s legs. McAuliffe and Ashley Banfield ’05 earned assists on the power-play goal.

Six minutes into the third period, freshman Katie Johnston notched the game’s final goal with a backhand rebound shot for her fourth tally of the season.

Neither team fared well on the power play, with the Wildcats failing to capitalize on all eight tries. Harvard, meanwhile, managed to convert on just one extra-man advantage (of eight). The Crimson defense limited No. 7 New Hampshire (7-5-1) to six shots on goal, as Harvard’s Ali Boe ’06 posted her seventh win of the season between the pipes.

The Crimson will travel to the Land of 10,000 Lakes this weekend for a two-game series against Minnesota-Duluth. Last season, the Bulldogs beat Harvard, 4-3, in double OT in the NCAA Championship Game. The match was widely hailed as one of the greatest games in collegiate hockey. Check http://www.gocrimson.com for the latest scores and updates.