No. 5 Women's Hockey Stays in ECAC Hockey Race with 2-1 Win at Union

Pictured: Randi Griffin netted the game-winning goal on the power play at 9:37 of the second period.
Photo courtesy: Kevin Burns Photography

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Randi Griffin scored a power-play goal and goaltender Kylie Stephens recorded 13 saves to guide the fifth-ranked Harvard women’s hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Union at Messa Rink Saturday afternoon. Kate Buesser also tallied a goal for the Crimson, which improves to 17-6-4 overall and 12-6-2 in ECAC Hockey games.

With the Crimson win, Katey Stone, the Landry Family Head Coach for Harvard Women’s Ice Hockey, moves to within one victory of tying former Minnesota and Colby head coach Laura Halldorson for the all-time Division I coaching record of 337 wins.

The Crimson fired 13 of the first 18 shots on goal for the game, but could not get one past Union’s Kate Gallagher until Buesser wristed a shot from the left circle at 3:05 of the second period. Buesser had fired a shot a moment later, but it was blocked. She collected the loose puck and fired for her 13th goal of the season, which leads the team.

Later in the second, Harvard extended its lead on a power-play goal by Griffin at 9:37. Kathryn Farni and Leanna Coskren earned assists, as Coskren took a slap shot from the right point and Griffin redirected the puck into the goal. The two-goal lead was short-lived as Union (5-26-1, 1-18-1) netted a power-play goal of its own, off the stick of Chelsey Heinhuis at12:48.

The Crimson held the final shot count, 36-14, firing 16 shots in the second period alone. Each team netted a power-play goal, while Harvard won 32 faceoffs, compared to 24 for Union.

Harvard will close out the regular season with key conference road games at St. Lawrence and Clarkson Feb. 19-20.