POTSDAM, N.Y. – Harvard women's ice hockey completed the first half of its season this afternoon by taking on the No. 6 Clarkson Golden Knights on their home ice at Cheel Arena. The Crimson (2-10-1, 1-9-0 ECAC) could not overcome a strong first period by the Golden Knights (16-3-1, 7-1-0 ECAC) who would come away with a 5-1 result over the Crimson in the final game of the semester. Harvard will now head into the holiday break where it will rest and prepare for the second half of the season that will begin on Jan. 3 back home in Cambridge.
 

How it Happened

 
The Crimson wrapped up its first semester schedule tonight at Cheel Arena, where it battled the No. 6 Clarkson Golden Knights. A fast-paced first period got started with both sides creating solid scoring looks in the opening minutes. Clarkson's opportunity was stopped by starting goalkeeper, Emily Davidson, who made a pair of saves to hold off the Golden Knights. On the other end of the ice a Paige Lester wrist shot was blockered away by the Clarkson keeper to keep the game scoreless.
 
Davidson went on to make five more saves in the first ten minutes of play but Clarkson managed to score back-to-back goals in the middle of the period as Clarkson jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the halfway point of the opening frame. Harvard countered with a few chances late in the period as Antonina Dinges hit the post with a strong shot from the slot and Kaley MacDonald had a one-timer saved. Clarkson would add one more tally in the period to take a 3-0 lead.
 
With just 25 seconds left in the frame, Gabi Davidson Adams and Ellie Bayard connected on a series of passes to set up Ella Lucia, who threaded a shot into the net for Harvard's first goal of the night. The tally made the score 3-1 heading into the first intermission.
 
Davidson settled in during the opening minutes of the second period, making seven saves in the first ten minutes to keep Harvard within reach. The Golden Knights kept pushing and eventually restored its three-goal lead with a strike just past the halfway point in the second period. Harvard had a couple of chances in the period, most notably two shots from point blank range by Scout Oudemool but couldn't put another tally on the scoreboard as the period ended with Clarkson holding on to a 4-1 lead.
 
Two powerplay opportunities early in the third period for the Crimson did not result in a goal as Harvard kept looking for a goal to get a comeback started. Clarkson added another tally late in the third period to take a 5-1 lead. Harvard could not answer for the remainder of regulation as the Golden Knights
 

Harvard Highlights

• Ella Lucia scored her second goal of the season.
• Ellie Bayard and Gabi Davidson Adams recorded the assists on the Lucia goal.
• Jenna MacDonald blocked four shots.
• Ainsley Tuffy played made 15 saves, allowing just one goal in 30 minutes of action.

 

Up Next

The Crimson will have the next 27 days to rest, recover and prepare for the second half of its season that is set to begin on Jan. 3, 2025. Harvard will open the second half of its season with a home-and-home series against the Dartmouth Big Green, first playing at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center on Jan. 3 before traveling to Hanover to battle in Thompson Arena on Jan. 4.