By Gayle Simone
The Huskies were looking forward to playing the toughest team, No. 5 Harvard University, in the Beanpot Tournament’s first round, but they didn’t anticipate the routing the Crimson would hand them in the process. Harvard dominated the game, beating Northeastern 9-1.
Jennifer Raimondi had a hat trick for the Crimson, one goal coming shorthanded. Nicole Corriero added two goals for Harvard, while four others had a goal each.
NU coach Laura Schuler noted not all of Harvard’s goals were results of good play on the Crimson’s part, but a breakdown in her team’s play.
“Their goal that came shorthanded was a huge mistake for us,” Schuler said. “But I thought their first goal was amazing. I’ll accept good goals, but I will not accept bad goals.”
Chrissy Sands scored the lone goal for the Huskies, with just one minute left to play in regulation to avoid the shutout. Schuler was not pleased with her young club’s play out on the ice.
“We made a lot of mistakes that we generally don’t make,” Schuler said. “The girls did not show up to play. I am really disappointed.”
Marisa Hourihan made 42 saves for the Huskies, while Ali Boe and Emily Vitt made 22 saves combined for Harvard.
The Huskies will face Boston University in the consolation round Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Matthews Arena.
Boston College beat BU, 9-1, in the first game, of the Beanpot Tournament. BC will be seeking their first-ever Beanpot Championship while Harvard goes for their seventh straight when the two teams meet next Tuesday night.
Despite a tough effort, the Huskies lost a close game, 2-1, to No. 8 University of New Hampshire, Friday night at Matthews Arena.
After skating a scoreless first period and most of the second, the Wildcats finally broke the scoring drought with 25.2 seconds left of the middle frame.
Hourihan made the initial save, but the rebound was out of her grasp and Stephanie Jones capitalized over the corner of Hourihan’s sprawled leg to give UNH the 1-0 lead heading into the second intermission.
“That’s something I am trying to work on, giving up rebounds,” Hourihan said. “Lately, with my confidence I feel like they are having a tougher time beating me on the rebounds and I think that’s why I am making so many saves a game.”
UNH’s lead didn’t last long; the Huskies answered just 14 seconds into the final period.
Amy Goodney looked like she got beat on the face-off but kicked the puck to an open Crystal Rochon. Rochon skated in front of the net and lifted the puck over Melissa Bourdon’s right shoulder to tie the game at 1-1.
The Wildcats scored at the 8:24 mark to take the lead back for good. Jackie Wedster beat Hourihan stick side to give the Wildcats the 2-1 advantage.
In a final attempt to tie the game and force overtime, Schuler pulled Hourihan with 57 seconds remaining in favor of the extra attacker. But Bourdon held off the Huskies to preserve UNH’s victory.
“Unfortunately, we fell short tonight,” Schuler said. “I think if we had 10 more seconds we would have scored a goal to tie it up.”
UNH improved to 17-5-4 on the season and 9-1-2 in Hockey East, while the Huskies dropped to 3-19-2 and 2-10-1 in HE.
Hourihan tied her own record with 57 saves on the night.
“Oh my God. That’s amazing,” Hourihan said. “Too bad I couldn’t get the last save to beat it.”
Bourdon made 18 saves for the Wildcats. This was the final meeting between the two teams this season, with UNH sweeping the series.
“When I think of how far this team has come since the beginning of the year it makes me just so proud of them,” Schuler said. “The first game we lost eight to nothing, the second game was 7-1, the third game we lost 5-2 and now this game we lost 2-1. That’s an exceptional improvement. I am real proud of the way they played.”
The Huskies travel across town to Boston College Saturday for a 2 p.m. game, also the final game for the two Hockey East rivals. The Huskies have the series lead two games to one heading into the matchup.
