CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard women's ice hockey mounted a ferocious comeback against ECAC foe Union tonight but fell just short in an eventual overtime loss. The Crimson (2-15-2, 1-12-1 ECAC) still managed to pick up a point against the Garnet Chargers (9-16-1, 6-9-0 ECAC) by pushing the contest to overtime.
Emily Hamann's first collegiate goal tied the game late in the third period to send the contest to extra time.
How it Happened
Harvard and Union met on the ice for the second time this season as the Crimson closed out an ECAC weekend at the Bright-Landry Hockey Center.
Emily Davidson got the start in the contest and was tested early by the Garnet Chargers. Davidson made six saves in the opening ten minutes to settle down a physical first start to the matchup. Harvard had two chances of its own in the period, both coming off the stick of
Kaley MacDonald from the point. The blueliner threw two good looking shots on net but couldn't get them to go as the game remained scoreless going into the media timeout of the first period.
The Crimson penalty kill executed three penalty kills in the period, sparked by six saves from Davidson, to keep the game scoreless going into the first intermission. Even with Union on the advantage for six minutes in the frame, Harvard's defense allowed only 11 shots to reach Davidson.
A trio of Crimson blocked shots highlighted a strong defensive effort to begin the second period. Harvard's defense sparked a great opportunity for
Zoe Boosamra who was stopped by the Union goalie after a great play to create space for a shot in the slot.
Ellie Bayard got the Crimson on the board 11 minutes into the second period, threading a backhand shot through the five-hole of the goalie for the game's first goal. Bayard's goal came on the powerplay for Harvard.
Union battled back to rattle off two straight goals to take lead the lead back from the Crimson. Harvard stopped the bleeding with a great defensive stand to end the period, killing off another powerplay to keep the score at 2-1 heading into the second intermission.
The sides went back and forth to begin the third period, but the defenses stood tall, giving very little ground on either side. After 11 minutes had gone by in the period, the teams had only allowed four shots on goal in total and two for each team.
Emily Hamann came in clutch for the Crimson, tying the score with just three minutes left in regulation. Hamann's first career goal leveled the score at 2-2.
Davidson was called on to make one more save in regulation, which she cleaned up with ease as play shifted to an overtime period. Union found the game-winning-goal two minutes into extra time to escape Cambridge with a win. The Crimson did not leave empty handed, as the team grabbed a point from Union by pushing the game to overtime.
Harvard Highlights
Up Next
The Crimson will play in the third-place game of the 2025 Dunkin' women's Beanpot tournament against Boston College on Tuesday afternoon at TD Garden. The Crimson and the Eagles will battle it out at 4:30 PM and live on NESN.
