CAMBRIDGE, Mass – Harvard women's ice hockey continued one of the busiest stretches of its season tonight when it welcomed the RPI Engineers into the Bright-Landry Hockey Center for an ECAC tilt. The Crimson (2-14-2, 1-11-1 ECACH) tied the game in third period but could not hold off an Engineers, who skated away with a 3-1 win.
Paige Lester scored the goal for Harvard and
Ainsley Tuffy made 25 saves to backstop the effort.
How It Happened
Harvard and RPI met on the ice for the second time this season with Harvard looking to exact revenge after the Engineers took the first win of the series back in October.
Ainsley Tuffy was stellar in the first 20 minutes of the game for the Crimson, making 11 saves to keep the Engineers off the scoreboard in the first frame. Tuffy made a pair of highlight reel saves to backstop a great defensive stand from Harvard.
The Crimson had two high danger scoring chances in the period, both coming on the powerplay, as
Paige Lester and
Eva Dorr both had shots get narrowly stopped. A very even first period ended in a scoreless tie as RPI held a slight 11-6 advantage in shots on goal.
The Engineers struck first eight minutes into the second period to take a 1-0 lead. Harvard worked quick on the counter, creating a pair of chances.
Zoe Boosamra who caused a turnover on the forecheck before driving to the net and putting a backhand shot off the pad of the RPI goalie. Just after,
Annie Sun took possession of the puck, made a series of moves before threading a pass into the slot that went just under the stick of
Emily Hamann.
The Crimson played with a ton of energy after going down a goal, putting pressure on RPI's defense by continually working the puck in deep. RPI's goalie was forced to make a pair of difficult saves that kept Harvard off the board in the second period. On the other side of the ice, Harvard allowed just two RPI shots in the final ten minutes of the period. Despite the Crimson push, RPI carried its 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Harvard came out swinging in the third period, controlling play in the early going.
Paige Lester answered the call, scoring the game-tying goal just under three minutes into the third period. Lester made a great play to scoop the puck off the boards after a tie-up by
Sophie Ensley before ripping a shot into the top shelf, beating the RPI goalie.
The Crimson kept going on the attack, putting another trio of shots on the Engineers net in the following sequences. After Harvard took a penalty midway through the period, RPI took advantage, putting another tally on the board to take a 2-1 lead. The Engineers followed up with another quick strike to boost the lead to 3-1 late in the period.
Harvard created a few chances late in the contest but couldn't add another goal to the board as RPI skated off with a 3-1 victory at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center.
Harvard Highlights
Up Next
Harvard will be back on the ice tomorrow night when it plays host to the Union Garnet Chargers. The puck is set to drop at 3:00 PM at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center and on ESPN+. The game will also serve as the team's Alumni night, as the program is set to welcome back over 60 former players for the annual celebration.
