ON WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Lessons To Learn In W. Hockey Loss

After losing to No. 5 Wisconsin and No. 1 Minnesota this weekend, the No. 4 Harvard women’s hockey team needs to step back and take away whatever good it can from two tough defeats.

The talk from the Harvard bench has been that the team wants to play the best teams in the country early to see where the Crimson itself stands, so let’s take a second to pause and see what it can take into next weekend’s equally important set of games against No. 3 Duluth.

Lesson No. 1: This team can play with the big girls.

Most importantly, even though Harvard was ranked No. 1 in the country entering Thanksgiving weekend last season, the highest ranked team it had faced was then-No. 6 St. Lawrence.

After this weekend, it is clear that there are five teams atop collegiate women’s hockey: Minnesota, Dartmouth, Wisconsin, Duluth and Harvard. The Crimson secured its spot amongst the other four by keeping in contact with both the Badgers and the Golden Gophers, just a few short changes of fortune or key plays away from winning either game.

No longer does Harvard or its faithful have those nagging doubts about whether this team can challenge those at the top like last year’s did. Now, it’s just a matter or how high the team will raise its level of play.

Perhaps Crimson coach Katey Stone put it best after the loss to Minnesota, saying with full confidence that, “We’re good now, but we want to be great in March.”

Lesson No. 2: Nicole Corriero cannot be stopped.

Up against two of the best defenses in the nation, including the top one in Minnesota’s unit and goalie Jody Horak, Corriero still managed to post five goals over two games.

Going into this weekend, much of the talk was about the potency of the Golden Gophers’ incredible first line including two U.S. National Team top liners. Wendell and Darwitz came through, but Corriero proved her own worth on the ice.

After scoring nine goals in her last five games entering this weekend, Corriero had cemented her place with the best of the best, but this weekend showed that she can do it against anyone at anytime.

“I don’t know how it’s happening, but [Corriero] keeps getting it done,” Stone said. “And it’s because she just keeps putting herself in a position to score goals.”

Against Minnesota, Corriero showed perfectly what her coach was describing, scoring one goal on a deflection off her skate amidst a crowd in front of the net and the other while being knocked to the ground after taking the puck right through the center of the Golden Gophers’ defense.

Although it’s early in the season, Corriero seems to be making a push to capture the Crimson’s fourth Kazmaier Award in as many years.

Lesson No. 3: Defense without Angela Ruggiero ’02-’04 is uncharted territory.

Although the Crimson knew it would have to adjust its defensive structure without the dominating presence of Ruggiero to anchor it, Harvard ran into its first real defensive test this weekend.

Giving up 11 goals in two games, it is arguable whether the Crimson passed that test or not, but there was definite improvement over the course of the two days—playing much tighter against the incredibly explosive Minnesota offense.

Minnesota coach Laura Halldorson was quick to note following the game that although the last time the Golden Gophers faced off with the Crimson, Harvard had Ruggiero, now it has to contend with other obstacles.

“Well they had Angela, but they didn’t have Vaillancourt,” Halldorson said. “Those are both two very good players. They are both different. Let’s just say that our forwards appreciated not having to play against Ruggiero in our offensive zone.”

Lesson No. 4: Julie Chu can play anywhere.

In the third period against Minnesota, Stone decided to pull Chu back to play more of a defensive role while letting aggressive sophomore Lindsay Weaver try her luck on offense.

The result was a solid period defensively for Harvard. The Crimson held Darwitz and Wendell in check and upped its pressure on Horak, converting on one of its scoring chances in the final minutes.

“They way I equate it is when I used to play goalie,” Chu said. “[The other goalie and I] would play for a couple of games, then they would let us come out for a bit [to play offense]. For some reason we would score two goals,” Chu said. “I think it’s that change in mentality. It’s the excitement of playing a new position. I don’t know the technical aspects as much, so maybe it’s more instinctual out there.”

Chu was quick to note, however, that she will leave the goalkeeping up to those who can actually move around in these pads.

So, maybe Chu cannot play everywhere, but her ability to switch almost seamlessly between offense and defense could be the Crimson’s answer to its struggles in its own zone.

Lesson No. 5: People like seeing the best matchups in women’s collegiate hockey.

Though the vast majority of the student body was away on Thanksgiving break, 936 fans came out to see the Crimson’s two games as part of the Harvard Shootout this weekend.

While the games in which Harvard crushes lesser-skilled squads may not be as big a draw, when the matchups step up a notch, they are exciting and entertaining.

With the Shootout a success and Duluth visiting Cambridge later this week, this stretch may be the best women’s hockey at Bright Hockey Center in a long time.

The Crimson matches up with Duluth, to whom it lost the National Championship game two seasons ago, this weekend. Hopefully, more Harvard faithful will come out to Bright to see it.

—Staff writer Gabriel M. Velez can be reached at gmvelez@fas.harvard.edu.