Icewomen Pound Middlebury, 4-2

Recipe for success: sizzle against an undefeated team, garnish with two quick third-period goals, add some young talent...and voila!

The Harvard women's ice hockey team (6-2, 2-2 ECAC, 1-2 Ivy) followed this formula to perfection against Middlebury, handing the Panthers (2-1) their first loss via a 4-2 verdict yesterday.

Freshman Kiirsten Suurkask pounded the gavel down on the Panthers, rifling in her 12th and 13th goals of the season within just 4:37 of each other in the third period.

Suurkask nullified a Panther power play by scoring her first goal of the game. She has now tallied four short-handed goals on the season.

However, the Panthers showed that if the power play giveth, the power play also taketh away. Middlebury evened the contest on a power play goal early in the second period.

Previously, sophomore Sally Maloney had scored her first goal of the season halfway through the first period to give Harvard a 1-0 lead.

As it had done on Nov. 22 in its 3-1 win over Boston College, though, Harvard shook off the tie. Late in the second period, junior Jen Gerometta notched her third goal of the season for a 2-1 lead.

Then Harvard and Suurkask burst the game wide open.

Senior co-captain Jen Bowdoin buoyed the Crimson in net, making 22 saves to gain her second victory in as many starts. The Crimson has now won its last two games, outscoring the opposition, 7-3.

Yesterday's win combined the potent offense displayed in Harvard's 5-4 overtime loss to Dartmouth with the steadily-tightening defense exhibited in the win over B.C.

Should the Crimson prepare more samples of this savory blend, Harvard should dominate its next two contests this weekend. Harvard faces Colby on Saturday and the University of New Hampshire on Sunday, and looks to swipe both games. MIDDLEBURY  2 HARVARD  4