Gedman Tallies Winning Score in Overtime to Top Clarkson

Less than 24 hours after the Harvard women’s hockey team (2-0, 2-0 ECAC) won its first conference battle at St. Lawrence, the Crimson found itself knotted, 1-1, with ECAC competitor Clarkson (4-2-4, 0-1-1) as the clock expired on a scoreless third period. Luckily for Harvard, after 1:32 extra minutes, sophomore forward Marissa Gedman scored to break the Crimson out of its stalemate and seal a 2-1 overtime victory.

“It was awesome to come back with the win in overtime,” junior defenseman Josephine Pucci said. “It was the first time we were put in a do-or-die situation … It was great to be put in that type of situation and come out on top.”

Freshman defenseman Michelle Picard earned an assist on the play, passing to Gedman, who carried the puck past the Clarkson defense and netted her second game-winner of the weekend.

“[Gedman] worked so hard over the summer,” Pucci said. “It’s great to see her coming back sophomore year playing so well and being more aggressive. This whole weekend has been a testament to the work she put in. She took control of the situation, and she ended up putting the final goal away.”

In the first two games of the season, Gedman has tallied five points on two goals and three assists, putting her in the top spot for the Crimson in all three statistical categories. Harvard had a solid first few outings overall, placing 75 shots on goal and capitalizing on four of its 10 power-play opportunities.

“Marissa came up huge this whole weekend,” Pucci said. “The freshmen have been playing well … and developing more confidence out there. It was so much fun being out there with everyone. A whole weekend together really translated onto the ice for us.”

Although the Crimson outshot the Golden Knights, 11-7, in the first period, neither team could convert its chances in the opening frame.

“It was pretty back and forth [in both the] first and third periods,” Bellamy said. “We exchanged power-play goals in the second period … which was more of a special teams exchange, but the game was pretty even throughout.”

In the second frame, Harvard got on the board first, as Pucci tallied a goal—her first of the young season—at 5:42 on a power play. After receiving a pass from junior forward Jillian Dempsey, Gedman split the Clarkson defense and found Pucci back door.

“All power-play goals are about all five people working together,” Pucci said. “Hopefully we can build on this weekend and how we did. That power-play goal was just us building on what we did [against St. Lawrence.]”

But Clarkson tied it up, earning a numbers-up goal of its own with less than a minute to play in the second period after sophomore forward Kalley Armstrong received a two-minute penalty for roughing.

Despite another power-play opportunity in the third that saw Harvard fire off nine shots, the third period remained scoreless, forcing the game into overtime.

“It’s great having that experience so early in the season,” Pucci said. “We’re young … and it gives us more room to build. We’re trying to take advantage of every chance we have.”

Junior goaltender Laura Bellamy recorded 25 saves on the night, giving her 42 on the season after Harvard’s first two games, and sophomore forward Lyndsey Fry led the team with eights shots on goal.

Penalty kill also proved to be an integral part of Harvard’s victory on Saturday, as Harvard successfully defended two numbers advantages in the second frame before finally surrendering the tying goal.

“Our penalty kill has been doing really well,” Bellamy said. “The biggest part of that is if you can kill off penalties, you can gain a lot of confidence. The two goals [we let up this weekend] were power-play goals ... but overall, we’ve been successful on penalty kills … We’re taking charge and communicating really well.”

Although Clarkson won 47 face offs to Harvard’s 26, the Crimson escaped escape the first weekend of regular season play undefeated.

“It was a tough battle,” Bellamy said. “They’re a big strong team. Throughout regulation it was pretty even. In overtime, we weren’t playing for the tie. We went in there with the mentality to try and get the win.”

—Staff writer Catherine E. Coppinger can be reached at ccoppinger@college.harvard.edu.