WASHINGTON, D.C. – In its final contest of the D1 in DC tournament, Harvard women's ice hockey fell to the St. Thomas Tommies. The Crimson, who took an early lead after a goal from Gwyn Lapp, made a valiant comeback attempt that fell just short in an eventual 4-3 defeat.  
 
The Crimson (1-11-1, 0-8-1 ECAC) fought hard down the stretch, trying to cut into the Tommies lead. Maria Pape and Eva Dorr potted back-to-back powerplay goals with just under five minutes left to get the Crimson back into the game. Despite its best efforts in closign minutes, St. Thomas skated away with the first win in the series history.
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Harvard and St. Thomas kicked off day two of the D1 in D.C. hockey tournament this afternoon, meeting for the first time in history on the ice at the MedStar Capitals Ice Plex in Arlington.
• After a slow start by both sides that saw only one shot on goal in the opening five minutes, Gwyn Lapp put the Crimson on the board with her second goal of the weekend and fourth of the season. Lapp carried the puck into the zone, found space in the middle of the right circle to rip a wrist shot over the St. Thomas goalie's shoulder and into the back of the net.
• The Tommies answered with a goal 14 minutes into the period to level the score.
• Both sides traded successful penalty kills late in the period, as the first 20 minutes would result in a 1-1 tie. Alex Pellicci made 14 stops in the first frame to keep the score level.
• The Tommies took a 3-1 lead eight minutes into the period after netting two goals in the first eight minutes of the second frame.
• St. Thomas added one more tally late in the period to carry a 4-1 lead into the second intermission.
• The Crimson kept pushing early in the third period in an attempt to get back into the game. Harvard got its opportunity down the stretch when St. Thomas took back-to-back minor penalties to give the Crimson a 5-on-3 powerplay.
• Maria Pape got right to work, netting a drive from the high slot off an offensive zone faceoff win by Gwyn Lapp. Pape's goal was set up by Mia Biotti and cut the lead to 4-2.
• Just 72 seconds later, Eva Dorr tipped home her first career goal off a great feed from Ellie Bayard. Another Crimson powerplay strike made the score 4-3 with just under five minutes to play.
• A minute later, Gabi Davidson Adams nearly potted the tying goal but was cut off at the last second by the Tommies' goalkeeper.
• The Crimson's great comeback attempt was cut short after St. Thomas held off the Harvard pursuit in the final minutes.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS

• Eva Dorr scored her first career goal in the third period.
• Maria Pape had the second Crimson tally in the final frame.
• Gwyn Lapp scored her second goal in as many games.
• Mia Biotti recorded two assists on each of the third period goals.
• Ellie Bayard, Kate Kasica and Lapp all added assists.
• Harvard's powerplay went 2-for-3 on the night.
• Maria Pape blocked a team-high five shots.
• The Crimson blocked 20 Tommies shot attempts as a team.
• Alex Pellicci made 36 saves to backstop the effort.

 

UP NEXT

Harvard will return to its home ice at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center next weekend to take on St. Lawrence (Dec. 1) and Clarkson (Dec. 2). The Crimson return to ECAC play to battle the Saints and the Golden Knights before its month long break for finals and the holidays.