W. Hockey Wins Beanpot Final

For the fourth straight year, the Harvard women’s hockey players are Queens of the Beans.

The Crimson (13-9-1, 6-4-1 ECAC North) crushed a feisty but overmatched Boston College squad at Northeastern’s Matthews Arena last night, outshooting the Eagles 40-22 en route to a 7-2 victory.

Havard senior goaltender Alison Kuusisto, winner of the Joseph D. Bertagna award for Most Valuable Beanpot Goalie, became the first player in Harvard history to win four Beanpots.

“It’s a really special thing for me, not just winning, but being on the Harvard team for four years,” Kuusisto said. “A lot of people had doubted us at the beginning of the year, but we’ve come out fighting and playing really well together.”

While Kuusisto held the trophy for the last time, she expressed hope that her teammates will continue the tradition after she leaves.

“It’s great to give the freshmen a taste of what it’s like to hold this thing, it’s pretty amazing,” she said.

Junior center Tracy Catlin remained in fine form, scoring twice and assisting two goals. Her six Beanpot points (four goals, two assists) earned her tournament MVP honors.

“It was very exciting this year, and since we were the underdogs, it was the most rewarding one,” the three-time Beanpot winner said. “We all stepped up for both games.”

Catlin, who entered the game ill, put on a spectacular performance against BC (7-16-3), building on her two-goal evening against Northeastern a week earlier. Against the Huskies, Catlin’s weapon of choice had been the wrist shot. Last night, it was the deke.

She scored her first goal 13:21 into the second period after freshman forward Kat Sweet sent her the puck in the neutral zone. Catlin beat the lone defender, stumbled, regained her balance and deked out BC freshman goalie Lisa Davis with a backhand finish on the breakaway, giving the Crimson a 3-0 lead.

Sweet was again the catalyst on Catlin’s second goal. Midway through the third period, the freshman out of St. David’s, PA passed the puck to Catlin from behind the net. Catlin deked left and beat Davis stick side to extend Harvard’s lead to 6-2. Emily Haigh also received an assist on the play.

While Catlin’s goals helped put the game out of reach, the Crimson’s third line opened the scoring midway through the first period. Sophomore center Lauren McAuliffe passed the puck to senior winger Vanessa Bazzochi at the blue line, who sent the puck ahead to freshman winger Ali Crum. Crum, who was cheered loudly by a section of Wigglesworth entrymates, lifted the puck by BC freshman goalie Lisa Davis on the right side for her third goal of the season.

With two minutes remaining in the first period, Harvard freshman winger Kat Sweet came up with her own version of the knucklepuck to score Harvard’s second goal. Shortly after Catlin won the faceoff in the BC zone, Sweet recovered the puck and loaded up on a slapshot. The puck seemed to take an awkward bounce off the ice and traveled an unpredictable route over Davis’ right shoulder and into the net.

Following Catlin’s first goal, Harvard capitalized on a two-man advantage. All three Crimson forwards crashed the net. Freshman winger Nicole Corriero was stuffed on her attempt but McAuliffe kicked the rebound to her own stick and banged it by Davis for the power-play goal and 4-0 lead.

BC’s first goal came midway through the third on freshman forward Alaina Clark’s breakaway. Senior center Kelly McManus was credited with the assist.

Corriero responded a minute later, banging home a rebound for her 25th goal of the season. Catlin and freshman defender Ashley Banfield picked up a assists.

BC would score again with 58 seconds remaining as Missy Barsz poked the puck through Crimson senior netminder Alison Kuusisto.

To have the last laugh, McAuliffe lifted the puck over a sprawling Davis to extened the lead to 7-2 with five seconds remaining in the game. Sophomore forward Mina Pell and junior defender and captain Jamie Hagerman assisted on the play.

“Going in, you never know,” Harvard Coach Katey Stone said. “We’re young and BC has never won. I’m always worried about complacency but I didn’t see any on our side tonight.”

Harvard returns to action this weekend, hosting a doubleheader against St. Lawrence.