Icewomen Score Three Late in Third, Rally to Muzzle Scrappy Bulldogs, 4-2

Everyone knows Yalies are by nature vicious and underhanded. But put them in a hockey game without good refs. and they can really get out of hand.

"They were really cheap and dirty," said Harvard co-captain Firkins Reed, after the icewomen scored three late goals to put the Bulldogs in their place with a 4-2 win Saturday in New Haven.

Crime in New Haven

Yale's close-checking, chippy style of play, unrestrained by careful referees' whistles, frustrated the Crimson well into the third period. But the icewomen put it all together in the last six minutes, turning a 2-1 deficit into the final margin of victory.

The onslaught started with 5:27 left on the clock, when the team's scoring leader. Dianne Hurley, notched her 12th goal of the season, on a picturesque deflection of a pass from Vicki Palmer.

With just under four minutes left, Harvard forged ahead. Sue Newell took a centering pass from linemate Cathy Carroll and hit the twines from in close, while Reed screened Betsy Mason, the Eli netminder. Just 56 seconds later, Hurley, assisted by blueliner Megan Berthold, iced the contest with her second tally.

The 54 minutes leading-up to the Crimson explosion saw the Eli's forge a narrow lead as they managed to disrupt Harvard's normally fast-skating attack. Yale forced a sloppily-played game in which the Crimson offense, plagued by a frequent inability to capitalize on its scoring chances, was effectively stymied.

Harvard coach John Dooley was visibly annoyed with his team's performance in those first two stanzas.

The first goal came off the stick of blueliner Missy Simonds, who beat Crimson goalie Cheryl Tate at 10:36 of the first stanza. Harvard's Liz Ward tied the contest at the 18:48 mark, deflecting a shot from the point by co-captain Julie Starr. But despite out-shooting Yale 17-5 in the period, the Crimson couldn't pull ahead.

Boola Boola

And after Bulldog defenseman Lukey Macmullen scored, unassisted, at 17:37 of the second period. Yale threatened to put the Crimson's record in Ivy League competition below .500. The late comeback, though, gave Harvard a 3-2 league mark, and an 8-5 overall record.

NOTEBOOK: While the Crimson continues to have problems with its on-and-off offense, the defense has been stellar...With Saturday's win. Harvard's goals-against average sank to 1.92 per game...As usual, the Crimson vastly outshot its opponents, this time by 39-19...The icewomen will be in action tonight at Boston College's McHugh Forum against a weak Eagle squad with some horrendous losses (15-0 to Providence last week) on its record...It should be a friends-and-family-only crowd, as B.C. hockey fans have other things on their minds (like Beanpot finals at the Garden tonight)...Next home game is Wednesday night versus Dartmouth. At Ingalle Rink, New Haven, Conn. Harvard  1  0  3-4 Yale  1  1  0-2

Yale, Missy Simonds (Reedie Field, Betsy Bradley), 10:36. Harvard, Liz Ward (Julie Starr, Vicki Palmer), 18:48. Yale, Lukey Macmullen (unassisted), 17:37. Harvard, Dianne Hurley (Ward, Palmer), 14:33. Harvard, Sue Newell (Cathy Carroll, Firkins Reed), 16:05. Harvard, Hurley (Megan Berthold), 17:01.

Saves: Harvard, Cheryl-Tate, 4-7-6--17. Yale, Betsy Mason, 16-7-12--35.

Yale, Missy Simonds (Reedie Field, Betsy Bradley), 10:36. Harvard, Liz Ward (Julie Starr, Vicki Palmer), 18:48. Yale, Lukey Macmullen (unassisted), 17:37. Harvard, Dianne Hurley (Ward, Palmer), 14:33. Harvard, Sue Newell (Cathy Carroll, Firkins Reed), 16:05. Harvard, Hurley (Megan Berthold), 17:01.

Saves: Harvard, Cheryl-Tate, 4-7-6--17. Yale, Betsy Mason, 16-7-12--35.