Hey hockey fans! Get ready for an action-packed weekend as Harvard women’s hockey hits the road to take on Yale and Brown. The Crimson are determined to climb up the ECAC standings and show their ancient eight rivals what they’re made of. Last weekend, Harvard had some tough battles with Union and RPI, but managed to earn their first point in the ECAC standings after pushing the game with the Engineers to overtime.
The Bulldogs and the Crimson faced off four times last year, with the Bulldogs coming out on top in all four games. However, Harvard still holds the advantage in the all-time series with a record of 79-13-6. This time, Harvard will be seeking revenge against Brown, who swept the regular season series last year for the first time in over two decades. In the past ten matchups, Harvard has dominated with a 7-2-1 record against their Ivy League rival.
Let’s take a look at the competition. Yale had a solid start to their season, with a win against Princeton and a loss to Quinnipiac. Anna Bargman and Elle Hartje have been leading the team with two points each, while goaltender Pia Dukaric has been impressive with a 2.01 goals against average. Yale is ranked fifth in the national poll and is projected to finish second in the ECAC standings.
On the other hand, Brown had a tough start to their ECAC campaign, losing to Quinnipiac and Princeton. They did, however, have a series split against Holy Cross at the beginning of the year. India McDadi leads the team with two goals, and Kaley Doyle has been solid in goal with a 2.04 goals against average. Keep an eye on sophomore Jade Iginla, who was named the ECAC Co-Rookie of the Year last season.
In their last games, Harvard put up a strong fight against Union and RPI, but came up short. Zoe Boosamra, a first-year forward, has been making a name for herself with assists in each of her first three collegiate games. She’s following in the footsteps of Mary Parker ’17, who achieved the same feat back in 2012-13. Boosamra currently leads all NCAA first-years with an average of 1.00 assist per game.
Veteran leaders Shannon Hollands and Mia Biotti had an impressive weekend, combining for seven points in the games against Union and RPI. Hollands scored in both contests and assisted on Biotti’s game-tying goal against RPI. This marked the first time since the 2021-22 season that Harvard had two players with three points in a game.
Let’s not forget about the exciting firsts for Sophie Ensley and Maria Pape. Ensley, a sophomore forward, scored her first collegiate goal, followed by Pape, a first-year defender, who scored on the powerplay. These moments are what make the game so special.
Mia Biotti has been clutch for Harvard, scoring important goals in crucial moments. Last season, she scored the game-winner against St. Lawrence with just 31 seconds left on the clock. And in the last game against RPI, she tied the game with just over a minute remaining, forcing overtime.
So, get ready for an epic weekend of women’s hockey as Harvard takes on Yale and Brown. Will the Crimson climb up the standings and get their revenge? Stay tuned to find out!