CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard women's ice hockey wrapped up its first semester slate at Bright-Landry on Saturday afternoon, falling 3-1 to Rensselaer in a tightly contested ECAC matchup. The Crimson (7-6-1, 4-5-1 ECAC) generated 27 shots on goal and scored on the power play in the opening period, but a pair of late goals from RPI (6-15-0, 3-7-0 ECAC) proved to be the difference in the matchup. Carla McSweeney scored the Crimson goal while Emily Davidson made 25 saves in the effort.
 

How It Happened

Harvard opened the game with strong offensive pressure, earning two early power plays and outshooting RPI 12-11 in the first period. The Crimson broke through at the 8:56 mark on the skater advantage when Carla McSweeney converted on a great series of passes from Morgan McGathey and Gwyn Lapp. McSweeney's fourth goal of the season gave the Crimson a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.
 
RPI found the equalizer midway through the second period, converting on a power play chance to make the score 1-1. Harvard limited the visitors to just four shots in the period and created zone time of its own, but could not reclaim the lead. Davidson added three more saves in the frame to keep the game even heading into the third.
 
The teams battled tightly through a scoreless opening 15 minutes of the third period before RPI took its first lead of the afternoon, capitalizing on a net-front scramble to go ahead 2-1. Harvard pulled the goaltender for an extra attacker in the closing minutes but RPI sealed the contest with an empty-net goal with just under two minutes remaining.
 
Harvard pushed for a late response but could not break through as the Engineers escaped with a 3-1 decision.
 

Harvard Highlights

• Carla McSweeney scored her fourth goal of the season, a power-play tally, in the first period.
• Morgan McGathey recorded her eighth point of the season with an assist on the opening goal.
• Gwynn Lapp added her third assist of the year.
• Emily Davidson made 25 saves, including 11 in both the first and third periods.
• Harvard blocked 13 shots, led by Annie Sun with three.

 

Game Notes

• The Crimson powerplay has scored four goals in the team's past four games.
• This was Harvard's 14th straight game holding an opponent to three goals or fewer.
• Harvard has now scored first in nine games this season.
   

Up Next

Harvard will now head into the holiday break where it will have the chance to rest, recover and prepare for the 2026 Friendship Series Tournament. The Crimson will compete in the first ever four-team women's tournament in Belfast after the New Year (Jan. 2-3).