HAMDEN, Conn. – January 31, 2025 – Starting Harvard goaltender, Emily Davidson made 27 saves to backstop a relentless Harvard defensive effort in an eventual narrow loss to the No. 10 Quinnipiac Bobcats. Trailing by two goals in the third period, the Crimson (2-19-2, 1-15-1 ECACH) got a late goal from Sophie Ensley but the Bobcats (17-8-4, 8-6-3), managed to hold on to take the victory.
 

How it Happened

The Crimson began its longest road swing of the second half tonight as it made its way to Connecticut to take on the No. 10 Quinnipiac Bobcats inside M&T Bank Arena. Harvard set the tone early by displaying a relentless defensive presence in the opening minutes to stump the Bobcats offense. Starting Harvard goaltender, Emily Davidson, made six saves in the first nine minutes of the game to settle down play. The defensive stand in the first period also featured two successful penalty kills for Harvard, who allowed only three shots to reach Davidson while down a skater. The game would remain scoreless heading into the first intermission with Quinnipiac holding a slight lead in shots at 9-4.
 
The teams traded flurries of shots to open the second period, with Davidson weathering a storm of four chances before Harvard countered with three chances of its own. Both goalies made a series of saves to keep the game scoreless at the halfway point. The Bobcats were able to break through late in the second period, taking a 1-0 lead that they would carry into the second intermission.
 
After an early goal from Quinnipiac to open the third period, Harvard began to fight back. Midway through the final frame, Kaley MacDonald unloaded a slap shot the was initially blocked by a Bobcat skater. The puck floated down low towards Sophie Ensley, who managed to get a stick on the puck and poke it into the back of the net to cut the lead in half with just over eight minutes to go. The Crimson kept pushing for the game-tying goal late in the contest, but could not find the equalizer as Quinnipiac escaped with a 2-1 victory.
 

Harvard Highlights

• Sophie Ensley scored Crimson goal.
• Emily Davidson made 27 saves to backstop the effort.
• Harvard blocked 20 shots as a team.
• Maria Pape led the squad with four blocked shots.

 

Up Next

Harvard will be back in action tomorrow night when it takes on the Princeton Tigers in Hobey Baker Rink. Puck drop is set for 3:00 PM with the game set to air live on ESPN+.