BELFAST, Northern Ireland – The Harvard women's ice hockey team will play for the Belpot Trophy tomorrow evening after defeating the No. 5 University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in the semifinal round of the 2026 Friendship Series. The Crimson (8-6-1, 4-5-1 ECAC) upset the No. 5 Bulldogs (12-7-0, 8-6-0 WCHA) in overtime behind a tremendous effort from sophomore goaltender
Ainsley Tuffy, who made a career high 55 saves in the victory.
Kate Kasica and
Ella Lucia scored the team's regulation goals while
Carla McSweeney potted the overtime winner to advance the Crimson into the title game.
Tuffy's 55 saves were the third-most in a game in Harvard women's ice hockey history. They were also the most saves by a goalie in a win in program history. The Crimson will now move on to play Boston University in the 2026 Friendship Series Championship tomorrow night at SSE Arena in a battle for the Belpot Trophy.
How it Happened
The Crimson took the ice at SSE Arena today against No. 5 Minnesota Duluth in the semifinal round of the 2026 Friendship Series Tournament in Belfast. Harvard's head coach – and former UMD Associate Head Coach- Laura Bellamy, competed against the Bulldogs for the first time in her Harvard tenure. Two teams that have a storied rivalry fought again in what became an instant classic and one of the best games in Friendship Series history.
The sides traded chances in the early going with shots on goal coming quickly. The teams quickly adjusted to the wider sheet of ice at SSE Arena and used the extra room to create a few good chances early in the contest. After Harvard sent a skater to the penalty box, it looked as if Duluth had a chance to strike first. The Crimson turned that penalty into a goal after
Kate Kasica made a play on the puck in the top of the defensive zone before skating all the way down the ice and potting a short-handed goal. Kasica's first career strike put Harvard on top, 1-0, and gave Harvard its first short-handed goal of the season.
Ainsley Tuffy went to work in the Crimson's defensive zone, saving 14 shots in the first frame to keep Harvard in the lead at the first intermission.
UMD came out swinging in the second period, throwing shot after shot at
Ainsley Tuffy. Another 16 saves – and one shot that rang off the goal post - for the Harvard netminder and seven blocked shots from the Crimson kept UMD off the scoreboard again in the second period. Despite being outshot 16-4 in the frame, the Crimson added another tally to its total after
Ella Lucia tipped home a goal off crisp passes from
Angelica Megdanis and
Carla McSweeney. The sophomore's sixth point in her last seven games put the Crimson on top, 2-0, after 40 minutes played.
The Bulldogs kept charging in the third period, looking to finally get past Tuffy. UMD was able to find the back of the net twice in the frame after putting 25 shots on goal. The Crimson countered with 10 shots of its own but was unable to find the back of the net. The team's best chance came with just 30 seconds left in regulation when
Morgan McGathey created a turnover on the forecheck and found
Elle Sproule who had her shot blocked. The teams went on to overtime after regulation ended in a 2-2 tie.
An exciting overtime period began with the Crimson winning the faceoff and putting a shot on net off the stick of
Keira Ley. The Bulldog keeper made the stop and sent UMD screaming down the ice. Tuffy stepped up to make two huge saves, one of which was aided by
Ella Lucia, who charged down the ice and dove in front of the Bulldog forward who had to adjust her shot angle and allowed Tuffy to get in key position to make a massive save.
With just 20 seconds left in overtime
Emi Biotti connected with
Carla McSweeney on a long stretch pass to put her in scoring position. The first-year forward split the Bulldog defenders and ripped a shot from the right side just inside the left post to win the game for the Crimson. It was McSweeney's third straight game with a goal and sent Harvard into the Belpot Championship game tomorrow night.
Harvard Highlights
Game Notes
- The win over No. 5 UMD is the highest ranked win of Laura Bellamy's head coaching career.
- Kate Kasica's first career goal was also the Crimson's first short-handed goal in 2025-26.
- This upset was the program's highest ranked win since the 2021-22 season when it beat No. 4 Quinnipiac.
- Carla McSweeney is now on a three-game goal scoring streak after potting the OT game-winner.
- Ainsley Tuffy's 55 saves are the third most in program history and the most saves by a goalie in a win in Harvard Women's Ice Hockey History
Up Next
Harvard will take on Beanpot Rival, Boston University, in the championship game of the 2026 Friendship Series tomorrow night at SSE Arena in Belfast. The sides will battle for the Belpot trophy and the title of Friendship Series Champions. The puck will drop at 2:00 PM (EST) and will stream live on the Belfast Giants YouTube channel.
