No. 1 W. Hockey Cruises in Opening Weekend

The Harvard women's hockey team answered what few questions there were heading into the first weekend of the season and, more importantly, maintained the nation's No. 1 ranking with a pair of victories on the road.

The Crimson (2-0-0, 0-0-0 ECAC) held off Wisconsin (5-4-1, 3-2-1 WCHA) Friday, 3-1, in Madison before pasting then-No. 5 Minnesota (5-3-0, 2-0-0 WCHA), 8-3, in Minneapolis. Despite losing to Harvard, the Gophers jumped to No. 3 in the U.S. College Hockey Online poll by beating then-No. 3 Brown, 4-0, on Friday.

Although Harvard Coach Katey Stone had to tweak her top forward line in the offseason, it continues to score at will. The first line combined for 20 points in the first two games that the Crimson has played without A.J. Mleczko '99, who won the 1998-99 Kazmaier Award as national player of the year.

Junior winger Tammy Shewchuk earned the ECAC Player of the Week Award for scoring five goals and two assists on the weekend.

"Our line feels great," said sophomore center Jen Botterill, Shewchuk's linemate. "Every shift we get a little better, and we're starting to work really well together."

Botterill, who replaced Mleczko by switching from wing to center, had three goals and four assists. Junior winger Angie Francisco, the newcomer on the top line, scored a goal and five assists. Both Francisco and Botterill were named to the ECAC honor roll.

This weekend also marked senior goaltender Crystal Springer's first games between the pipes since she reinjured her collarbone in the national semifinal against Brown last March. Springer allowed four goals and made 38 saves in the two victories.

"I was a little more nervous than usual at Wisconsin because it was my first game since the injury," Springer said. "But I was really excited to get back out there."

A pair of freshmen, defenseman Jamie Hagerman and forward Tracy Catlin, each scored the first goals of their collegiate careers.

Harvard 8, Minnesota 3

After a close call against newcomer Wisconsin Friday night, Harvard regrouped and came out strong against Minnesota. The Crimson scored four goals in the opening period and held a 6-0 lead halfway through the second.

Minnesota forward Laura Slominski was called for interference 40 seconds into the game, and Francisco set up Shewchuk just 28 seconds later to give Harvard the early lead. Hagerman scored on another power play eight minutes later.

"We were a little more ready to go on Sunday," Botterill said. "And we took advantage of a few lucky bounces that didn't go our way at Wisconsin."

Shewchuk recorded her second goal at 13:29 of the first and Botterill added another score late in the period before the Crimson headed into the first intermission comfortably in front, 4-0.

The scoring parade continued into the second period thanks to goals from Catlin and Botterill. Then Minnesota finally got on the board when defenseman Winny Brodt scored at 9:48 of the second.

Minnesota forward Betsey Kukowski scored five minutes later to pull the Gophers to within three goals, but an insurance goal from Shewchuk gave Harvard some breathing room and Shewchuk a hat trick. Once Harvard grabbed a commanding early lead, Springer, who allowed three goals and made 25 saves, never let Minnesota back in the game.

"I felt more settled after the Minnesota game because I know they are a physical team," Springer said. "It was a relief to know that my shoulder can make it through a physical game like that."

The third period was very physical as 12 penalties were called, six on each team. Minnesota freshman Ronda Curtin scored on a power play at 4:28 of the third, and Shewchuk padded Harvard's margin with 8:11 left in the game on a shorthanded goal, unassisted.

Harvard 3, Wisconsin 1

Things were not as easy for Harvard at Wisconsin, where the Badgers held a 1-0 lead in the third period before the Crimson top line came through with three goals to secure the victory.

Wisconsin freshman forward Kendra Antony, who entered the weekend as the nation's third-leading scorer, gave the Badgers the early lead at 10:30 of the first when she grabbed a loose puck in front of the net and sent it past Springer.

On the other end of the ice, Wisconsin freshman goaltender Chanda Gunn was standing on her head. Harvard failed to score in the first two periods as Gunn made 27 saves, almost single-handedly keeping her team in the game.

"We were pretty confident that we could score," Botterill said. "Their goalie played extremely well, but we were getting a lot of chances and we didn't let up in the third period."

Botterill played a part in all three Harvard goals. First she set up Shewchuk for an easy score, then she fed Francisco, who beat the Badgers down the ice. Botterill rounded out the scoring herself, with help from Francisco and junior defenseman Jamie Notman.