Women's Hockey Battles Through Snow in Close Loss at Frozen Fenway

BOSTON, Mass. - The Harvard Crimson (4-9-2, 3-6-2 ECAC) traveled down the road to Fenway Park to play against No. 3/4 ranked Quinnipiac (19-3-0, 9-1-0 ECAC) at Frozen Fenway. The Crimson received a goal from Shannon Hollands and Alex Pellicci notched 33 saves, but Harvard fell short, 3-1 in their first game at Fenway Park since 2017.

Simply unbelievable #TeamFirst x #OneCrimson pic.twitter.com/iYlwHYd9GV
— Harvard Women's Hockey (@HarvardWHockey) January 6, 2023

How it Happened

During heavy snowfall which created a bouncy and unpredictable puck, the Crimson opened play at Fenway Park with a strong defensive performance, allowing Quinnipiac to only one shot on goal in the first 11 minutes and 30 seconds of the game.
With just over a minute left in the first period, sophomore goaltender Alex Pellicci denied Quinnipiac's Jess Schryver's breakaway opportunity with an impressive save, killing off Quinnipiac's lone power play in the period. Pellicci would finish the period with seven saves. However, the Crimson would trail the Bobcats 1-0 at the end of the first.

Alex Pellicci with a huge stop on the breakaway??

??: NESN https://t.co/QA1xvbkBWE #TeamFirst x #OneCrimson x #FrozenFenway pic.twitter.com/WivN2OrUac
— Harvard Women's Hockey (@HarvardWHockey) January 6, 2023

In the second period, Pellicci continued to be a brick wall in goal for the Crimson, recording 18 saves in the period, tying her third highest save total in a period this season. Sophomore defensemen Jenna Macdonald recorded two shots on goal for the Crimson. At the end of the second period, Harvard trailed Quinnipiac 2-0.

Junior Shannon Hollands got Harvard on the board at the 1:27 mark of the third period with a breakaway goal set up by a great pass from sophomore Paige Lester. Sophomore Mia Biotti also assisted on the play. For Hollands, the goal was her second of the season and ninth of her career.

Lester with the pass??
Hollands with the finish ??

??: NESN https://t.co/QA1xvbkBWE #TeamFirst x #OneCrimson x #FrozenFenway pic.twitter.com/NspwfmRKDn
— Harvard Women's Hockey (@HarvardWHockey) January 6, 2023

Quinnipiac quickly answered right back with a goal of their own at the 2:15 mark of the third period, giving the Bobcats a 3-1 lead. The Crimson would put nine shots on net in the third period, but were unable to score again, falling to Quinnipiac 3-1.

"Its very cool to be playing in such an historic facility like this" - Anne Bloomer??

Hear from Captain Bloomer recap the first period??
??: NESN https://t.co/QA1xvbkBWE #TeamFirst x #OneCrimson x #FrozenFenway pic.twitter.com/9sKilBGZQ2
— Harvard Women's Hockey (@HarvardWHockey) January 6, 2023

Harvard Highlights

This was Harvard's first game at Fenway Park since 2017.
Harvard held Quinnipiac to only eight total shots on goal in the first period, the Bobcat's lowest first period shots on goal total and third lowest shots on goal total this season.
Pellicci's 18 second period saves tied her third highest save total in a period this season.
Shannon Hollands recorded her second goal of the season and ninth of her career.
On Hollands' goal, Paige Lester earned her third assist of the season while Mia Biotti notched her fourth assist of the season.
Biotti and Hollands have now earned a point in two straight games.