Crimson cook up sweet finish

This year’s opening round Beanpot challenge was hardly a cakewalk for the No. 7 Harvard women icers. But for these reigning best-of-Boston champs long-accustomed to hoisting the ceramic prize each and every February since 1999 (whilst annually whipping their ‘Pot opponents by an average score of 7-1), the outcome – a 2-1 win in overtime against Boston University this past Tuesday (Feb. 7) at Bright Hockey Center – was still sweet.

Women score OT win to advance to eighth straight title game

Andrew BrooksHarvard News Office
This year’s opening round Beanpot challenge was hardly a cakewalk for the No. 7 Harvard women icers. But for these reigning best-of-Boston champs long-accustomed to hoisting the ceramic prize each and every February since 1999 (whilst annually whipping their ‘Pot opponents by an average score of 7-1), the outcome – a 2-1 win in overtime against Boston University this past Tuesday (Feb. 7) at Bright Hockey Center – was still sweet.

Playing every bit the part of the varsity program they officially became just five months ago, the brave Terrier squad (featuring 18 freshmen, two sophomores, and four juniors) denied the Crimson – the nation’s second leading team in power play efficiency – on four of its five man-up opportunities. BU’s freshman goaltender Allyse Wilcox effectively barred 37 of Harvard’s 39 shots on goal. The result: a somewhat surprising 1-1 stalemate after three periods of play.

In the sudden death period, however, the Crimson were seemingly able to channel their Beanpot dominance of past – emphatically so. With just 47 ticks off the OT clock, freshman Lauren Herrington slid the puck to fellow rookie Sarah Wilson, who punched the frozen disc into the corner of the net to hand Harvard the dramatic win, advancing the home team to its eighth straight Beanpot title game appearance – a tournament record.

The Crimson (11-7-4; 3-2-3 Ivy) will look to make it eight straight ‘Pots on Valentine’s Day opposite Boston College (14-9-4; 12-3-1 Hockey East), who also earned an overtime win on Tuesday, clipping Northeastern, 4-3.

Conversely, Harvard’s men’s squad found little redemption in the newly christened TD Banknorth Garden on Monday evening (Feb. 6), dropping a 5-3 decision against a tenacious Terrier team. The setback handed Harvard (which last captured the ‘Pot in 1993, back when the Garden was just the Garden) its eighth straight exit from the storied tourney, now in its 54th year.

With the win, BU advances to the championship round to face B.C. – 5-2 winners over Northeastern in Monday’s opening contest – on Feb. 13 at TD Banknorth Garden. Harvard (12-9-2; 5-3 Ivy), meanwhile, will challenge the Huskies (1-19-6, 1-13-6 Hockey East) in the consolation game.

Against No. 6 BU, the Crimson found themselves down 4-1 after two periods of play before forging a late comeback. After some ferocious shooting in the final stanza – wherein Harvard outshot the Terriers 26 to 5 – Crimson sophomores Alex Meintel and Dave Watters found the back of the net at 6:09 and 17:39, respectively, to cut the deficit to 4-3. BU soon put away the surging Crimson skaters for good, however, tallying an empty-net goal with 7 seconds remaining to set up the 5-3 final.

For further Beanpot news and weekend results, visit http://www.gocrimson.com.