Women's Hockey Rises, Niagara Falls--Twice

The No. 1-ranked Harvard women's hockey team gave a rude awakening to a young Niagara squad, blanking the Purple Eagles, 5-0 and 6-0, this weekend in Niagara, N.Y.

The Purple Eagles (3-6, 2-6 ECAC) are tied with St. Lawrence for ninth place in their first season with the ECAC Women's Division I League. Niagara's youthful team has four sophomores and 16 freshmen.

Harvard, on the other hand, has a roster full of talent and experience, including four of the conference's top six point-scorers. With the two shutout victories, the Crimson (10-1, 8-1) increased its winning streak to seven games and moved into sole possession of first place for the first time this season. HARVARD  6 NIAGARA  0 HARVARD  5 NIAGARA  0 Harvard holds a two-point lead over both No.2 New Hampshire and No. 7 Princeton.

As it has all season, the Crimson's potent offense continued to control the puck and the flow of the game, reeling off 87 shots against Niagara freshman goal-tender Tania Pinelli.

"We definitely dominated the game," said co-captain A.J. Mleczko, who on Saturday became the first Harvard women's hockey player to score 100 career goals. "They really didn't get a chance to set up, even on their power plays."

The Crimson continued to improve in the defensive zone as well, as junior netminder Crystal Springer made 34 saves and lowered her goals-against average to 1.36 and raised her save percentage to .936, good for second and third in the ECAC, respectively. Springer has not allowed a goal in her last eight periods between the pipes.

"What was really important was the defensive aspect of our game," said sophomore forward Kiirsten Suurkask, who had an assist on Saturday. "It was great that we allowed no goals. If our defense is working well we can focus on more on the offense, so we need to take care of our responsibilities down low, and we did that this weekend."

All 11 Crimson goals came from Harvard's four leading scorers. Sophomore forward Tammy Shewchuk recorded her second hat trick of the season Friday with four goals, and added a goal and two assists Saturday. Mleczko tallied two goals and six assists. Freshman defenseman Angela Ruggiero scored three goals and notched an assist, and classmate Jen Botterill chipped in a goal and four assists in the two games.

With 23 points on the season, Ruggiero is the highest--scoring defenseman in the nation. The forward line of Mleczko (33 points), Shewchuk (30) and Botterill (27) contains the top three scorers in the country. Shewchuk leads all Division I players with 16 goals and Mleczko leads the nation with 24 assists.

"It's fun playing on that line," Mleczko said. "What's great is that not only are we scoring, but virtually all the goals any of us score come from assists from the other two."

"But the other lines are also playing very well. They are not scoring as much but they're doing all the little things we need to do win like backtracking and keeping the puck out of the defensive zone. There is a lot of power on our team," she added.

Harvard 5, Niagara 0

Mleczko's 100th goal rounded out the scoring 9:36 into the second period with help from Shewchuk. That was Harvard's fifth and final goal before the Crimson concentrated on maintaining the shutout. Springer made 10 saves in the final 20 minutes to record her second goose egg of the weekend.

The Crimson wasted no time putting the game away, scoring four goals in the firstsix minutes of the game. The first line combinedfor the game's first goal when Mleczko andShewchuk assisted a Botterill goal 1:21 after thefirst face-off, and the Crimson never looked back.That line scored again less than two minutes laterwhen Shewchuk scored with help from Mleczko andBotterill.

But other lines also produced in the firstperiod. Ruggiero scored 2:29 into the game withhelp from Suurkask and senior forward JenGerometta. Ruggiero also tallied the last goal ofthe period on the power play with assists fromMleczko and sophomore forward Angie Francisco.

Harvard 6, Niagara 0

The power play unit was effective Friday,capitalizing on four of Niagara's six penaltiesfor goals.

"Our power play unit is starting to click alittle more," Mleczko said. "Niagara's man-downunit was not very experienced. They playedtentative and stayed back against our passingattack and we took advantage."

Shewchuk recorded her hat trick 2:41 into thesecond period with help from Ruggiero and Mleczko.Botterill assisted both of Shewchuk's first-periodgoals.

Mleczko scored 46 seconds into the third periodwith an assist from junior defenseman CourtneySmith. The Crimson rounded out the scoring withpower play goals by Shewchuk and Ruggiero withhelp from Botterill, Mleczko, Francisco andsophomore forward Tara Dunn.

Harvard will be back in action Friday night atBoston College. The Crimson will be without theservices of Shewchuk and Botterill, who will beplaying in Europe for the Canadian Under-22 Team.

HARVARD, 6-0at NU Ice Complex, Niagara, N.Y.Harvard  2  1  3  --  6Niagara  0  0  0  --  0

First PeriodHar--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 6:01.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill) 18:39.

Second PeriodHar--Shewchuk (Ruggiero, Mleczko) 2:41.

Third PeriodHar--Mleczko (Smith) 0:46.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Francisco) 2:30.Har--Ruggiero (Mleczko, Dunn) 9:21.Saves: Har--Springer 5-4-4 13; NU--Pinelli11-15-11 37.Power Play: Har--4/6; NU--0/4.Attendance: 256

HARVARD, 5-0at NU Ice Complex, Niagara, N.Y.Harvard  4  1  0  --  5Niagara  0  0  0  --  0

First PeriodHar--Botterill (Mleczko, Shewchuk) 1:21.Har--Ruggiero (Gerometta, Suurkask) 2:29.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 3:18Har--Ruggiero (Mleczko, Francisco) 5:52

Second PeriodHar--Mleczko (Shewchuk) 9:36.Saves: Har--Springer 7-4-10 21; NU--Pinelli7-14-18 39.Power Play: Har--1/2; NU--0/5.Attendance: 343

As it has all season, the Crimson's potent offense continued to control the puck and the flow of the game, reeling off 87 shots against Niagara freshman goal-tender Tania Pinelli.

"We definitely dominated the game," said co-captain A.J. Mleczko, who on Saturday became the first Harvard women's hockey player to score 100 career goals. "They really didn't get a chance to set up, even on their power plays."

The Crimson continued to improve in the defensive zone as well, as junior netminder Crystal Springer made 34 saves and lowered her goals-against average to 1.36 and raised her save percentage to .936, good for second and third in the ECAC, respectively. Springer has not allowed a goal in her last eight periods between the pipes.

"What was really important was the defensive aspect of our game," said sophomore forward Kiirsten Suurkask, who had an assist on Saturday. "It was great that we allowed no goals. If our defense is working well we can focus on more on the offense, so we need to take care of our responsibilities down low, and we did that this weekend."

All 11 Crimson goals came from Harvard's four leading scorers. Sophomore forward Tammy Shewchuk recorded her second hat trick of the season Friday with four goals, and added a goal and two assists Saturday. Mleczko tallied two goals and six assists. Freshman defenseman Angela Ruggiero scored three goals and notched an assist, and classmate Jen Botterill chipped in a goal and four assists in the two games.

With 23 points on the season, Ruggiero is the highest--scoring defenseman in the nation. The forward line of Mleczko (33 points), Shewchuk (30) and Botterill (27) contains the top three scorers in the country. Shewchuk leads all Division I players with 16 goals and Mleczko leads the nation with 24 assists.

"It's fun playing on that line," Mleczko said. "What's great is that not only are we scoring, but virtually all the goals any of us score come from assists from the other two."

"But the other lines are also playing very well. They are not scoring as much but they're doing all the little things we need to do win like backtracking and keeping the puck out of the defensive zone. There is a lot of power on our team," she added.

Harvard 5, Niagara 0

Mleczko's 100th goal rounded out the scoring 9:36 into the second period with help from Shewchuk. That was Harvard's fifth and final goal before the Crimson concentrated on maintaining the shutout. Springer made 10 saves in the final 20 minutes to record her second goose egg of the weekend.

The Crimson wasted no time putting the game away, scoring four goals in the firstsix minutes of the game. The first line combinedfor the game's first goal when Mleczko andShewchuk assisted a Botterill goal 1:21 after thefirst face-off, and the Crimson never looked back.That line scored again less than two minutes laterwhen Shewchuk scored with help from Mleczko andBotterill.

But other lines also produced in the firstperiod. Ruggiero scored 2:29 into the game withhelp from Suurkask and senior forward JenGerometta. Ruggiero also tallied the last goal ofthe period on the power play with assists fromMleczko and sophomore forward Angie Francisco.

Harvard 6, Niagara 0

The power play unit was effective Friday,capitalizing on four of Niagara's six penaltiesfor goals.

"Our power play unit is starting to click alittle more," Mleczko said. "Niagara's man-downunit was not very experienced. They playedtentative and stayed back against our passingattack and we took advantage."

Shewchuk recorded her hat trick 2:41 into thesecond period with help from Ruggiero and Mleczko.Botterill assisted both of Shewchuk's first-periodgoals.

Mleczko scored 46 seconds into the third periodwith an assist from junior defenseman CourtneySmith. The Crimson rounded out the scoring withpower play goals by Shewchuk and Ruggiero withhelp from Botterill, Mleczko, Francisco andsophomore forward Tara Dunn.

Harvard will be back in action Friday night atBoston College. The Crimson will be without theservices of Shewchuk and Botterill, who will beplaying in Europe for the Canadian Under-22 Team.

HARVARD, 6-0at NU Ice Complex, Niagara, N.Y.Harvard  2  1  3  --  6Niagara  0  0  0  --  0

First PeriodHar--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 6:01.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill) 18:39.

Second PeriodHar--Shewchuk (Ruggiero, Mleczko) 2:41.

Third PeriodHar--Mleczko (Smith) 0:46.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Francisco) 2:30.Har--Ruggiero (Mleczko, Dunn) 9:21.Saves: Har--Springer 5-4-4 13; NU--Pinelli11-15-11 37.Power Play: Har--4/6; NU--0/4.Attendance: 256

HARVARD, 5-0at NU Ice Complex, Niagara, N.Y.Harvard  4  1  0  --  5Niagara  0  0  0  --  0

First PeriodHar--Botterill (Mleczko, Shewchuk) 1:21.Har--Ruggiero (Gerometta, Suurkask) 2:29.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 3:18Har--Ruggiero (Mleczko, Francisco) 5:52

Second PeriodHar--Mleczko (Shewchuk) 9:36.Saves: Har--Springer 7-4-10 21; NU--Pinelli7-14-18 39.Power Play: Har--1/2; NU--0/5.Attendance: 343

But other lines also produced in the firstperiod. Ruggiero scored 2:29 into the game withhelp from Suurkask and senior forward JenGerometta. Ruggiero also tallied the last goal ofthe period on the power play with assists fromMleczko and sophomore forward Angie Francisco.

Harvard 6, Niagara 0

The power play unit was effective Friday,capitalizing on four of Niagara's six penaltiesfor goals.

"Our power play unit is starting to click alittle more," Mleczko said. "Niagara's man-downunit was not very experienced. They playedtentative and stayed back against our passingattack and we took advantage."

Shewchuk recorded her hat trick 2:41 into thesecond period with help from Ruggiero and Mleczko.Botterill assisted both of Shewchuk's first-periodgoals.

Mleczko scored 46 seconds into the third periodwith an assist from junior defenseman CourtneySmith. The Crimson rounded out the scoring withpower play goals by Shewchuk and Ruggiero withhelp from Botterill, Mleczko, Francisco andsophomore forward Tara Dunn.

Harvard will be back in action Friday night atBoston College. The Crimson will be without theservices of Shewchuk and Botterill, who will beplaying in Europe for the Canadian Under-22 Team.

HARVARD, 6-0at NU Ice Complex, Niagara, N.Y.Harvard  2  1  3  --  6Niagara  0  0  0  --  0

First PeriodHar--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 6:01.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill) 18:39.

Second PeriodHar--Shewchuk (Ruggiero, Mleczko) 2:41.

Third PeriodHar--Mleczko (Smith) 0:46.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Francisco) 2:30.Har--Ruggiero (Mleczko, Dunn) 9:21.Saves: Har--Springer 5-4-4 13; NU--Pinelli11-15-11 37.Power Play: Har--4/6; NU--0/4.Attendance: 256

HARVARD, 5-0at NU Ice Complex, Niagara, N.Y.Harvard  4  1  0  --  5Niagara  0  0  0  --  0

First PeriodHar--Botterill (Mleczko, Shewchuk) 1:21.Har--Ruggiero (Gerometta, Suurkask) 2:29.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 3:18Har--Ruggiero (Mleczko, Francisco) 5:52

Second PeriodHar--Mleczko (Shewchuk) 9:36.Saves: Har--Springer 7-4-10 21; NU--Pinelli7-14-18 39.Power Play: Har--1/2; NU--0/5.Attendance: 343

First PeriodHar--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 6:01.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill) 18:39.

Second PeriodHar--Shewchuk (Ruggiero, Mleczko) 2:41.

Third PeriodHar--Mleczko (Smith) 0:46.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Francisco) 2:30.Har--Ruggiero (Mleczko, Dunn) 9:21.Saves: Har--Springer 5-4-4 13; NU--Pinelli11-15-11 37.Power Play: Har--4/6; NU--0/4.Attendance: 256

HARVARD, 5-0at NU Ice Complex, Niagara, N.Y.Harvard  4  1  0  --  5Niagara  0  0  0  --  0

First PeriodHar--Botterill (Mleczko, Shewchuk) 1:21.Har--Ruggiero (Gerometta, Suurkask) 2:29.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 3:18Har--Ruggiero (Mleczko, Francisco) 5:52

Second PeriodHar--Mleczko (Shewchuk) 9:36.Saves: Har--Springer 7-4-10 21; NU--Pinelli7-14-18 39.Power Play: Har--1/2; NU--0/5.Attendance: 343

Second PeriodHar--Shewchuk (Ruggiero, Mleczko) 2:41.

Third PeriodHar--Mleczko (Smith) 0:46.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Francisco) 2:30.Har--Ruggiero (Mleczko, Dunn) 9:21.Saves: Har--Springer 5-4-4 13; NU--Pinelli11-15-11 37.Power Play: Har--4/6; NU--0/4.Attendance: 256

HARVARD, 5-0at NU Ice Complex, Niagara, N.Y.Harvard  4  1  0  --  5Niagara  0  0  0  --  0

First PeriodHar--Botterill (Mleczko, Shewchuk) 1:21.Har--Ruggiero (Gerometta, Suurkask) 2:29.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 3:18Har--Ruggiero (Mleczko, Francisco) 5:52

Second PeriodHar--Mleczko (Shewchuk) 9:36.Saves: Har--Springer 7-4-10 21; NU--Pinelli7-14-18 39.Power Play: Har--1/2; NU--0/5.Attendance: 343

Third PeriodHar--Mleczko (Smith) 0:46.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Francisco) 2:30.Har--Ruggiero (Mleczko, Dunn) 9:21.Saves: Har--Springer 5-4-4 13; NU--Pinelli11-15-11 37.Power Play: Har--4/6; NU--0/4.Attendance: 256

HARVARD, 5-0at NU Ice Complex, Niagara, N.Y.Harvard  4  1  0  --  5Niagara  0  0  0  --  0

First PeriodHar--Botterill (Mleczko, Shewchuk) 1:21.Har--Ruggiero (Gerometta, Suurkask) 2:29.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 3:18Har--Ruggiero (Mleczko, Francisco) 5:52

Second PeriodHar--Mleczko (Shewchuk) 9:36.Saves: Har--Springer 7-4-10 21; NU--Pinelli7-14-18 39.Power Play: Har--1/2; NU--0/5.Attendance: 343

HARVARD, 5-0at NU Ice Complex, Niagara, N.Y.Harvard  4  1  0  --  5Niagara  0  0  0  --  0

First PeriodHar--Botterill (Mleczko, Shewchuk) 1:21.Har--Ruggiero (Gerometta, Suurkask) 2:29.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 3:18Har--Ruggiero (Mleczko, Francisco) 5:52

Second PeriodHar--Mleczko (Shewchuk) 9:36.Saves: Har--Springer 7-4-10 21; NU--Pinelli7-14-18 39.Power Play: Har--1/2; NU--0/5.Attendance: 343

First PeriodHar--Botterill (Mleczko, Shewchuk) 1:21.Har--Ruggiero (Gerometta, Suurkask) 2:29.Har--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 3:18Har--Ruggiero (Mleczko, Francisco) 5:52

Second PeriodHar--Mleczko (Shewchuk) 9:36.Saves: Har--Springer 7-4-10 21; NU--Pinelli7-14-18 39.Power Play: Har--1/2; NU--0/5.Attendance: 343

Second PeriodHar--Mleczko (Shewchuk) 9:36.Saves: Har--Springer 7-4-10 21; NU--Pinelli7-14-18 39.Power Play: Har--1/2; NU--0/5.Attendance: 343