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UNSTOPPABLE!

W. Hockey Survives No. 6 Green, Routs B.C. for 23rd Straight

By Zevi M. Gutfreund, CRIMSON STAFF WRITER

No. 6 Dartmouth swaggered into Bright Hockey Center coming off a 4-3 stunning upset over No. 3 UNH and confident it could turn the trick again.

It nearly did.

Instead, the No. 1 Harvard women's hockey team prevailed in overtime, 4-3, and then defeated Boston College yesterday, 10-0, to push the nation's longest winning streak to 23 games. DARTMOUTH  3 HARARD  4 BOSTON COLLEGE  0 HARVARD  10

Sophomore winger Tammy Shewchuk sent the Bright crowd of 1,023 fans home happy Saturday with the game-winning goal 2:52 into the extra period.

Co-captain A.J. Mleczko drew the puck right to her of the face-off and Shewchuk sent the puck between the legs of Dartmouth sophomore goaltender Meaghan Cahill, who had mad 26 saves before that shot.

"I like to walk the seam ands that's exactly what I did when the puck popped back after the face-off," Shewchuk said. "We needed shots so I took one hoping that we would at least get the rebound. Fortunately, it went through her five-hole and we scored."

That came 58 seconds after Cahill kept the Big Green (14-7-5, 13-6-5 ECAC) alive by making a Hasek-esque glove save out of the butterfly on a similar shot from Shewchuk in the slot. But Harvard (26-1-0, 22-1-1) continued to pressure the Dart-

mouth netminder, out-shooting the Big Green 6-1in overtime.

"Their goalie's glove was working well,"Shewchuk said. "But we had noticed that she wasn'tas quick with her feet as she was with her gloveso we tried to capitalize on that."

The Big Green forced overtime by converting atwo-on-one breakaway with 11:06 left in regulationwhen sophomore forward Carrie Sekela banged home ashot from the left post on Dartmouth's bestopportunity of the game.

After that goal, however, it was all Harvard asthe top forward line of Mleczko, Shewchuk andfreshman Jen Botterill finally began to churn outtheir usual multitude of scoring chances.

However, Cahill and the physical Big Greendefense in front of her held their own untilShewchuk's shot.

"It took us a while to score that fourth goalbut we dominated the overtime," Mleczko said."Dartmouth's third goal deflated us for a momentbut we were able to round up and get some greatchances. Their goalie saved them in overtime untilTammy came through for us."

Perhaps the biggest scare for the Crimson camewith 7:33 left in regulation when a Dunn hookingpenalty gave the Big Green its sixth and finalpower play.

Although Dartmouth controlled the puck with theman advantage, it sent few quality shots towardsfreshman goal-tender Alison Kuusisto, who turnedthem all aside.

Tempers flared at the end of what was a veryphysical hockey game when Dartmouth sophomoreforward Jennifer Wiehn deflected a slapshot byHarvard freshman defenseman Angela Ruggiero. Wiehnstretched for the puck and Ruggiero pushed heronto the ice before exchanging shoves withDartmouth senior forward Kathleen O'Keefe.

"Dartmouth took some potshots and we got alittle frustrated," Coach Katey Stone said. "Butwe're the No. 1 team in the country and, if we'restill surprised about getting jabs from opponents,then we're just babes in the woods."

Shewchuk gave Harvard a 3-2 lead 3:21 into thethird period when Mleczko, handling behind theDartmouth goal, gave her the puck in the rightcircle. Shewchuk blew past one defender and sent ashot past Cahill's pads.

But that was the first sign of life from aCrimson offense which managed only four shots ongoal in the second period.

For one of the few times all season, Harvardfound itself spending the bulk of the action inthe defensive zone as aggressive forechecking byDartmouth and sloppy passing by Harvard preventedthe Crimson from setting up its potent offensiveattack.

"Dartmouth has a unique 1-3-1 forecheck andthey covered all our outlets," Mleczko said. "Theycrashed the wings and covered our centers and weweren't making good passes out of the defensivezone. Four shots in a period is not enough."

Harvard took a 2-1 lead 1:03 into the secondwhen Cahill failed to cover a loose puck in thecrease and Botterill knocked it into the net.

But Dartmouth's physical forechecking slowedthe tempo and gave the Big Green offense plenty oftime to create a shot.

That shot finally came with 4:33 left in theperiod when a slapper from the blue line bysophomore defenseman Liz Marci sailed pastKuusisto and Knotted the score at 2-2.

"In the second period they were banging us andgetting away with it." Stone said. "We weren'tmoving our feet like the fast-skating team that weare."

Freshman defenseman Correne Bredin--who trailsonly Ruggiero in scoring among freshmandefenseman--got the Big Green on the board at18:30 of the first period.

Botterill opened the scoring 12:57 into thegame on a two-on-one breakaway with Mleczko.Mleczko recorded the first of her game-high threeassists by feeding Botterill in the slot for thescore.

"This was a good, very intense, game and I wasa little nervous about it at the end," Stone said."I've seen these kids get the job done so manytimes, but I keep wondering when will our luck runout."

Harvard 10, Boston College 0

In the final regular season home game of hercareer, Mleczko broke two more records with a hattrick and three assists as the Crimson easilyglided past the 12th-place Golden Eagles (8-20-2,4-18-2) for the third time this season, 19-0.

With her goal 10:52 into the second period, theformer Olympian broke the Harvard single-seasonscoring record, previously held by currentAthletic Director Bill Cleary '56 for 89 points in1954-55.

That goal also gave Mleczko the women'sDivision I single-season scoring record set byCornell's Cindy Schlaepfer's 89 points in 1976-77.

Shewchuk also broke into the record booksyesterday. Her five goals tied the schoolsingle-game record and her nine points set theHarvard and ECAC single-game points record.

Co-captain Claudia Asano dealt out two assistsand senior winger Jen Gerometta recorded a goal onSenior Day. Suurkask netted the game-winner 7:13after the opening drop.

Dunn dished out four assists and Franciscoadded two helpers. Junior defenseman ChristieMacKinnon also had an assist.

The Crimson out-shot the Eagles 65-21.

Harvard 4-3 (OT) at Bright Hockey CenterDartmouth  1  1  1  0  3Harvard  1  1  1  1  4

First PeriodHar--Botteril (Mleczko, Mackinnon) 12:57.Dar--Bredin (Sekela) 18:30.

Second PeriodHar--Botterill (Shewchuk) 1:03.Dar--Marci (Sekela, McCullough) 15:27.

Third PeriodHar--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 3:41.Dar--Sekela (Bredin, Soustos) 8:54.

OvertimeHar--Shewchuk (Mleczko) 2:52.Saves:Dar--Cahill 13-3-5-5 26;Har--Kuusisto 3-5-5-1 14.Power Play:Dar--0/6; Har--0/2.Attendance:1,023Harvard 10-0 at Bright Hockey CenterHARVARD, 10-0 at Bright Hockey CenterB.C.  0  0  0  0Harvard  3  3  4  10

First PeriodHar--Suurkask 1(Shewchuk, Francisco) 7:13.(PPG).Har--Shewchuk 1 (Mleczko, Dunn) 9:46.Har--Gerometta 1 (Ruggiero) 13:42.

Second PeriodHar--Mleczko 1 (Dunn, Shewchuk) 10:52.Har--Mleczko 2 (Shewchuk, Mackinnon) 12:49.Har--Shewchuk 2 (Germoetta, Asano) 18:12.

Third PeriodHar--Shewchuk 3 (Mleczko, Dunn) 7:26. (PPG)Har--Mleczko 3 (Shewchuk, Asano) 13:45.Har--Shewchuk 4 (Francisco, Ruggiero) 16:00 (PPG).Har--Shewchuk 5 (Dunn, Mleckso), 19:48.Saves:B.C.--Nentwig 21-19-15 55;Har--Kuusisto 5-5-11 21.Power Play:B.C.--0/7; Har  2/3.Attendance:490

mouth netminder, out-shooting the Big Green 6-1in overtime.

"Their goalie's glove was working well,"Shewchuk said. "But we had noticed that she wasn'tas quick with her feet as she was with her gloveso we tried to capitalize on that."

The Big Green forced overtime by converting atwo-on-one breakaway with 11:06 left in regulationwhen sophomore forward Carrie Sekela banged home ashot from the left post on Dartmouth's bestopportunity of the game.

After that goal, however, it was all Harvard asthe top forward line of Mleczko, Shewchuk andfreshman Jen Botterill finally began to churn outtheir usual multitude of scoring chances.

However, Cahill and the physical Big Greendefense in front of her held their own untilShewchuk's shot.

"It took us a while to score that fourth goalbut we dominated the overtime," Mleczko said."Dartmouth's third goal deflated us for a momentbut we were able to round up and get some greatchances. Their goalie saved them in overtime untilTammy came through for us."

Perhaps the biggest scare for the Crimson camewith 7:33 left in regulation when a Dunn hookingpenalty gave the Big Green its sixth and finalpower play.

Although Dartmouth controlled the puck with theman advantage, it sent few quality shots towardsfreshman goal-tender Alison Kuusisto, who turnedthem all aside.

Tempers flared at the end of what was a veryphysical hockey game when Dartmouth sophomoreforward Jennifer Wiehn deflected a slapshot byHarvard freshman defenseman Angela Ruggiero. Wiehnstretched for the puck and Ruggiero pushed heronto the ice before exchanging shoves withDartmouth senior forward Kathleen O'Keefe.

"Dartmouth took some potshots and we got alittle frustrated," Coach Katey Stone said. "Butwe're the No. 1 team in the country and, if we'restill surprised about getting jabs from opponents,then we're just babes in the woods."

Shewchuk gave Harvard a 3-2 lead 3:21 into thethird period when Mleczko, handling behind theDartmouth goal, gave her the puck in the rightcircle. Shewchuk blew past one defender and sent ashot past Cahill's pads.

But that was the first sign of life from aCrimson offense which managed only four shots ongoal in the second period.

For one of the few times all season, Harvardfound itself spending the bulk of the action inthe defensive zone as aggressive forechecking byDartmouth and sloppy passing by Harvard preventedthe Crimson from setting up its potent offensiveattack.

"Dartmouth has a unique 1-3-1 forecheck andthey covered all our outlets," Mleczko said. "Theycrashed the wings and covered our centers and weweren't making good passes out of the defensivezone. Four shots in a period is not enough."

Harvard took a 2-1 lead 1:03 into the secondwhen Cahill failed to cover a loose puck in thecrease and Botterill knocked it into the net.

But Dartmouth's physical forechecking slowedthe tempo and gave the Big Green offense plenty oftime to create a shot.

That shot finally came with 4:33 left in theperiod when a slapper from the blue line bysophomore defenseman Liz Marci sailed pastKuusisto and Knotted the score at 2-2.

"In the second period they were banging us andgetting away with it." Stone said. "We weren'tmoving our feet like the fast-skating team that weare."

Freshman defenseman Correne Bredin--who trailsonly Ruggiero in scoring among freshmandefenseman--got the Big Green on the board at18:30 of the first period.

Botterill opened the scoring 12:57 into thegame on a two-on-one breakaway with Mleczko.Mleczko recorded the first of her game-high threeassists by feeding Botterill in the slot for thescore.

"This was a good, very intense, game and I wasa little nervous about it at the end," Stone said."I've seen these kids get the job done so manytimes, but I keep wondering when will our luck runout."

Harvard 10, Boston College 0

In the final regular season home game of hercareer, Mleczko broke two more records with a hattrick and three assists as the Crimson easilyglided past the 12th-place Golden Eagles (8-20-2,4-18-2) for the third time this season, 19-0.

With her goal 10:52 into the second period, theformer Olympian broke the Harvard single-seasonscoring record, previously held by currentAthletic Director Bill Cleary '56 for 89 points in1954-55.

That goal also gave Mleczko the women'sDivision I single-season scoring record set byCornell's Cindy Schlaepfer's 89 points in 1976-77.

Shewchuk also broke into the record booksyesterday. Her five goals tied the schoolsingle-game record and her nine points set theHarvard and ECAC single-game points record.

Co-captain Claudia Asano dealt out two assistsand senior winger Jen Gerometta recorded a goal onSenior Day. Suurkask netted the game-winner 7:13after the opening drop.

Dunn dished out four assists and Franciscoadded two helpers. Junior defenseman ChristieMacKinnon also had an assist.

The Crimson out-shot the Eagles 65-21.

Harvard 4-3 (OT) at Bright Hockey CenterDartmouth  1  1  1  0  3Harvard  1  1  1  1  4

First PeriodHar--Botteril (Mleczko, Mackinnon) 12:57.Dar--Bredin (Sekela) 18:30.

Second PeriodHar--Botterill (Shewchuk) 1:03.Dar--Marci (Sekela, McCullough) 15:27.

Third PeriodHar--Shewchuk (Botterill, Mleczko) 3:41.Dar--Sekela (Bredin, Soustos) 8:54.

OvertimeHar--Shewchuk (Mleczko) 2:52.Saves:Dar--Cahill 13-3-5-5 26;Har--Kuusisto 3-5-5-1 14.Power Play:Dar--0/6; Har--0/2.Attendance:1,023Harvard 10-0 at Bright Hockey CenterHARVARD, 10-0 at Bright Hockey CenterB.C.  0  0  0  0Harvard  3  3  4  10

First PeriodHar--Suurkask 1(Shewchuk, Francisco) 7:13.(PPG).Har--Shewchuk 1 (Mleczko, Dunn) 9:46.Har--Gerometta 1 (Ruggiero) 13:42.

Second PeriodHar--Mleczko 1 (Dunn, Shewchuk) 10:52.Har--Mleczko 2 (Shewchuk, Mackinnon) 12:49.Har--Shewchuk 2 (Germoetta, Asano) 18:12.

Third PeriodHar--Shewchuk 3 (Mleczko, Dunn) 7:26. (PPG)Har--Mleczko 3 (Shewchuk, Asano) 13:45.Har--Shewchuk 4 (Francisco, Ruggiero) 16:00 (PPG).Har--Shewchuk 5 (Dunn, Mleckso), 19:48.Saves:B.C.--Nentwig 21-19-15 55;Har--Kuusisto 5-5-11 21.Power Play:B.C.--0/7; Har  2/3.Attendance:490

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