CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The RV/RV Harvard women's hockey team will hit the road for the first time this season when it takes on Union and RPI on its home ice on Friday and Saturday, respectively. The Crimson (1-3-0, 1-3-0 ECACH) head to Schenectady and Troy, N.Y. looking to gain ground in the ECAC standings.
WHAT TO KNOW
Context of the Contest
The Harvard Crimson will hit the road for the first time in 2022-23, heading up to central New York for a two-game series against Union and RPI. The Crimson have had the Union Dutchwomen's number in years past as the team owns a 34-2-0 record against the ECAC foe all-time and has not lost in the series since 2016-17 (nine straight wins). Union has had a tough start to the season, posting a 3-5-0 record through the first few weeks of 2022-23.
The team will then take on the RPI Engineers on Saturday in the second game of the weekend. Harvard is 20-7-2 all-time against RPI and has won the past eight matchups against the foe. Harvard has outscored RPI 25-9 dating back to 2017-18. After dropping a pair of game last weekend, Harvard looks to bounce back and get back in the mix atop the ECACH standings.
Scouting The Competition
Union battled through a tough schedule to open up the 2022-23 season, battling six Hockey East teams before beginning its ECAC schedule. The Dutchwomen (3-5-0), own wins against New Hampshire, Holy Cross and Boston U. this season. The team failed to score a goal in its two losses to Clarkson and St. Lawrence last weekend. Senior forward Emily King (4g, 3a) leads the team offensively while sophomore goaltender Sophie Matsoukas (3.02/.912) leads the way between the pipes.
RPI (2-8-0) also had a slow start to the season, opening up the year on a six-game losing streak before sweeping RIT two weeks ago. The team was swept by Clarkson and St. Lawrence last weekend and was outscored 9-1 in those contests. Junior Ellie Kaiser (1g, 2a) leads the way offensively and senior goaltender Amanda Rampado (2.46/.917) leads the effort in the crease for the Engineers.
100 Game Club
Senior captains Anne Bloomer, Kristin Della Rovere and Kyra Willoughby all joined the 100 game club after reaching the milestone in the last three games. Courtney Hyland (66 games played) will be next skater to reach the milestone.
Hitting the Ice Flying
It didn't take long for the Crimson to put a tally on the board against Dartmouth on Oct. 21. In fact, it took only 11 seconds for captain, Kristin Della Rovere to score against the Big Green, which goes down as the fastest goal in team history and is tied for the eight-fastest goal in NCAA history.
KDR won the opening faceoff back to first-year defender, Jade Arnone, who cycled the puck up the boards to Anne Bloomer who found a streaking KDR in the slot. The senior forward put the puck in teh back of the net, writing her name in the history books in the process.
Dominant on Draws
First-line center, Kristin Della Rovere, has been dominating in the faceoff circle so far this season, posting 68 wins against 31 losses so far this season. Her .687 winning percentage is good for third-best in the country amongst qualified centers. Despite playing only four games, Della Rovere is still ranked within the top 60 with her faceoff wins total.
As a team, Harvard ranks fourth in the nation with a .584 winning percentage. Shannon Hollands ranks 31st in the nation with 37 wins and a .561 percentage.
Picking Up Where They Left Off
Harvard captains Anne Bloomer and Kristin Della-Rovere are off to a great start in 2022-23, leading the team with four points apiece. Bloomer recorded back-to-back multi-point efforts for third time in her career earlier this season while Della Rovere has notched a point in three of the team's first four games this season.
Stopping the Puck
Sophomore goaltender, Alex Pellicci stood on her head over the weekend in net for the Crimson. In the Friday night matchup with No. 9/8 Yale, the netminder made an astounding 54 saves to hold the Bulldogs to just two goals. The 54-save total was the most since Lindsay Reed in 2019 (52 vs. No. 2/2 Wisconsin) and stands as the third-most all-time in a single game for a Crimson goaltender.
Pellicci now ranks ninth in the nation with her .946 save percentage. Her 2.28 GAA is good for 24th in the country.
Taking One For the Team
Defender Jenna MacDonald leads the team in blocked shots this season with 11 through the teams first four games. That total currently is good for seventh in the ECAC and T-83 in the nation despite playing less games.
UP NEXT
The Crimson will return to the Bright-Landry Hockey Center the weekend of Nov. 11-12 to host Colgate and Cornell.
