Icewomen Seek Second Straight Win In Ivy Match With Princeton Tonight

Ever had tiger for dinner? The Harvard women's hockey team hopes to enjoy that unique feline delicacy tonight at 5 p.m., when the squad meets Princeton in a crucial Ivy League encounter at the Bright Center.

A question remains, however, as to whether the Crimson will eat or will be eaten at this annual reunion. Coming off its second victory, a devastating 9-0 win over Bowdoin, the Crimson (2-4 overall) is hungry for an Ivy triumph. And Coach Rita Harder's line shuffling seems to have rejuvenated the sleepy Harvard offense.

Harder's first two lines, which will rotate in and out for most of tonight's contest, have tallied 15 of the Crimson's 17 goals this season. Yardling Diane Hurley, skating with Alex Lightfoot and Sara Fischer on the first line, leads the team in scoring, with three goals and two assists. Fischer and Lightfoot join second liners Firkins Reed and Vicki Palmer with four points each.

Yet all but one of their goals came in the routs over Bowdoin and Connecticut. The squad must continue its aggressive loose-puck play and crisp passing to create scoring opportunities and keep the Tigers in their zone.

Hands Full on Defense

The defense, which has also skated well in the last two outings, will have its hands full with Princeton. On the blue line, co-captain Lauren Norton teams with fellow senior Alice Hill, while Julie Starr pairs with Deb Taft on the second defense. Freshman Cheryl Tate, fully recovered from her leg injury, has been hot in the nets.

The Tigers, sporting a 3-0 ledger, look like formidable opponents. Bill Quackenbush's skaters have amassed 24 goals, while allowing just five, in their three victories.

The best way (and the only way) for Harvard to stop leading scorers Kelly Odell, Liz Betts, and Syrena Carlbom will be to control the puck. If the Crimson can pull that off, there will be a sated squad in Cambridge and a busload of leftovers returning to New Jersey.