GIFT OF GAB': Crimson Skaters Remain In Hunt

What a surprise.

The No. 6 Harvard women’s hockey team still has No. 1 St. Lawrence’s number, and all the predictions about parity in the ECAC this season came to be. No. 9 Clarkson knocked off both the Crimson and Dartmouth to jump into the rankings.

But what does it all mean?

Well, right now, the Golden Knights are above the Big Green in the national polls and sit atop the ECAC with an undefeated record.

Harvard sits behind both Clarkson and the Saints, but now is not the Crimson’s time to worry—just as it is not the time to celebrate for the Golden Knights.

Harvard and Clarkson play their final games of the season against each other on Feb. 25th, while the Crimson and the Saints face off the night before.

If anything, this past weekend’s results render the end of the season a much more intriguing finish as these teams could be deciding the ECAC regular season championship against one other come February.

Nevertheless, the more important lesson for Harvard fans and players alike is that one early loss—even to a surprise team—does not kill a season.

For the Crimson faithful, it takes nothing more than a one-year trip into the past.

After going 4-5-1 in a key stretch early in the season last year, Harvard rebounded and finished with an incredible 21-game unbeaten streak to reach the NCAA Finals before falling to Minnesota in a tight contest.

The Crimson may not have the same experience or record-breakers that it had on last season’s squad, but the upside for the young team was on full display this weekend.

Against a St. Lawrence team that had steamrolled its opponents in its first eight games, Harvard not only grabbed the lead, but also kept out of the box in the second and third periods and was composed and focused enough to put through the game-tying goal with only six seconds remaining.

This strong finish came after a dominating first five minutes for the Saints. The more experienced team from North Country showed why it had been a consensus No. 1 team in the country by thoroughly outplaying Harvard—getting to pucks faster, not letting the puck out of its offensive zone, and throwing shot after shot on Crimson senior goalie Ali Boe.

In fact, Boe had to stop seven shots during the Saints first powerplay.

And yet, through it all, Harvard endured and earned the tie.

A year ago, the Crimson skaters showed similar toughness and focus despite early struggles and a long maturation process.

And look how far it got them.

That dream is still a long way off for the 20 women wearing Harvard sweaters this season.

But at least they have footsteps to follow.

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