CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Harvard Crimson returns to action with another pair of nonconference games this week against Hockey East programs. First, Harvard will match up with the Boston College Eagles for a midweek matchup on Tuesday (Nov. 22) night at Conte Forum. The Crimson will then pause for the holiday before hosting the New Hampshire Wildcats at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center on Saturday, November 26.
The Eagles and the Crimson will face off in a rematch of the 2022 Beanpot Championship game, in which Harvard defeated the Eagles off a late third period goal from Becca Gilmore '22. The Crimson has knocked off the Hockey East foe in four of the past five matchups dating back to 2018-19.
Though New Hampshire leads the all-time series with Harvard, the Crimson come into the matchup having won eight of the past 13 matchups (8-2-3 overall) dating back to 2008-09. The Crimson defeated the Wildcats with a 3-2 result a season ago. The tilt between the Wildcats and the Crimson can be found on NESN or streamed live on NESN+.
Scouting The Competition
Boston College comes into the contest receiving votes in both major polls while sporting a record of 8-7-1 in 2022-23. The Eagles are coming off a two-game series sweep of the New Hampshire Wildcats in which they outscored the HEA foe, 6-3.
Senior forward Hannah Bilka leads the team with 22 points through 16 games. Her 14 assists rank her No. 12 in the nation with .88 assists per game. The team has struggled scoring goals at points in the season, as the team ranks fifth and tenth in the HEA in scoring offense (2.3 gpg) and powerplay percentage (.097), respectively.
The Wildcats come into the contest as the eighth-place team in the Hockey East. UNH stumbled out of the gate to begin the season, dropping five of its first six contests before defeating Boston University for its first conference win.
The Wildcats boast a solid powerplay unit that ranks fourth and eighth in the nation in PPG (12) and PP Percentage (.235). Junior Kyla Brent's total of 4 PPG is second-best in the nation.
Last Time Out
Harvard battled a tough No. 7/8 Minnesota Duluth team this past weekend, dropping a pair of games to the WCHA power. The Crimson was shut out in both contests as the team fell to 2-6-2 on the season.
Taking One for the Team
As a team, Harvard has blocked 141 shots in 2022 which is 45 more than its opponent totals of 96. The total is also good for third-best in the ECAC. Defenders Jenna MacDonald, Mia Biotti and Kyra Willoughby lead the team with 22, 19 and 17 blocked shots, respectively.
Lighting the Lamp
Senior captain, Anne Bloomer, has been a force on the offensive end for the Crimson this season, scoring six goals to lead the team. Bloomer's two-goal game (her third muti-point game of the season) against No. 5/4 Colgate boosted her team lead to six goals. Bloomer now ranks No. 12 in the nation and sixth in the ECAC with .67 goals per game.
Pellicci Solid Between the Pipes
Sophomore goaltender, Alex Pellicci, has started every game in net for the Crimson, giving the group excellent goaltending efforts so far in 2022-23. Pellicci has saved 40-plus shots five times this season and 50-plus shots in two contests. Her 54 and 51 save games make her just the second Crimson goaltender to record two 50-plus save games in the same season in program history.
Her 54 saves against Yale was also third-most all-time for a Crimson goaltender.
Pellicci is on pace to make 1,134 saves in 2022, which would shatter the single season record of 927 set by Lindsay Reed in 2018-19.
Up Next
Harvard will close out the first half of its schedule with a road trip up to Clarkson and St. Lawrence next weekend. The Crimson will take on the northern New York foes on Friday and Saturday December 2-3.
