Beanpot Returns To Cambridge

BOSTON––The No. 1 Harvard women’s hockey team brought the Beanpot trophy back to Cambridge last night, pulling out a hard-fought victory over cross-town rival Boston University. The Crimson (23-1-0, 18-0-0 ECAC) defeated the Terriers (12-13-3, 8-6-1 Hockey East) by a count of 3-1 at Walter Brown Arena.

“It feels great,” Harvard coach Katey Stone said. “Certainly one of our goals in the beginning of the season was to recapture the Beanpot. It was a great hockey game.”

Senior tri-captain Caitlin Cahow scored the eventual game-winner in Harvard’s first Beanpot championship victory since 2005.

After faltering on its first power play, the Crimson came out with the 5-on-4 advantage to begin the second period. Just 25 seconds into the period, junior Sarah Vaillancourt fed the puck to Cahow, who was waiting at the right post.

Cahow lifted it over Terrier goalie Allyse Wilcox for her nation-leading tenth power-play goal of the season.

Junior Jenny Brine also recorded an assist on the play, which was also the 34th goal scored by the country’s second-best power play unit.

“We got great looks at the net, great opportunities,” Stone said. “They made us work for every inch. Fortunately, we were able to get a few more inches than them.”

Harvard came out strong to start the first period, opening the scoring just 3:24 into the game.

Sophomore Anna McDonald, playing behind the net, passed the puck to freshman Liza Ryabkina, who slipped it past Wilcox for the 1-0 lead.

Junior Sarah Wilson, the tournament MVP, also notched an assist on the goal.

The Terriers put the pressure on the Crimson defense for the bulk of the first period, getting their best scoring opportunity 15 minutes into the frame.

BU freshman Holly Lorms got a breakaway and launched a high shot to the top left corner of the net, but sophomore goalie Christina Kessler was there with a beauty of a glove save to keep Harvard in the lead.

The Crimson went on its first power play of the evening at 15:22 but couldn’t create any real scoring chances.

Terriers captain Sarah Russell was called for checking with 55 seconds remaining in the period and her penalty eventually led to the 5-on-4 advantage that set up Cahow’s game-winning goal.

That goal helped open up a 2-0 advantage over BU, but a determined Terriers squad came charging back thanks in part to the power-play.

Cahow was called for interference at the 1:54 mark, and BU made the most of its power play opportunity.

The Terriers launched a flurry of shots at the end of the power play, and Kessler simply could not stop them all when BU sophomore Jonnie Bloemers brought the Terriers within a goal. Freshmen Jillian Kirchner and Lauren Cherewyk assisted Bloemers on the play.

Harvard and BU traded penalties six minutes into the period when simultaneous fouls were assessed to Vaillancourt and Terrier Holly Lorms 6:46 into the frame.

The Crimson took advantage of the opportunity. With just one second remaining in 4-on-4 play as McDonald and Wilson streaked down the ice in a two-on-two, McDonald flicked the puck to Wilson, who one-timed it off a BU defender and into the net to make the score 3-1.

Both teams traded chances through the remainder of the second period. Harvard enjoyed another power play with four minutes to go in the period but failed to score.

Ryabkina had a breakaway with a minute left in the second frame, but she errantly passed the puck to an empty patch of ice to end the threat.

The Terriers played the Crimson close in the third period, launching nine shots on Kessler.

But, in the game’s closing minutes, Harvard’s standout goalie showed why she deserved to be receive the Bertagna Award as the best goaltender of the tournamanet based on save percentage.

BU went on the power play at 8:21, but was unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

And though the Terriers pulled their own goalie for the last two minutes of the game, Kessler and her defense shut them down.

When the final buzzer sounded, Kessler jumped into Brine’s arms as the team began to celebrate its 12th Beanpot title.

“I couldn’t be more proud to be part of this team,” Cahow said. “For us to be able to come in here in somebody else’s barn and win two close games, that’s a huge deal for us, and I think it’s going to bode well for what we’re going to be able to accomplish at the end of the season.”

—Staff writer Kate Leist can be reached at kleist@fas.harvard.edu.