Harvard Women’s Hockey Wins Shootout Against No. 14 Cornell

The Harvard women’s hockey team traveled to Ithaca, N.Y., riding the momentum of its first ranked win and first shutout of the season over then-No. 11 Yale, delivered by sophomore goalie Izzy Whynot. Last night, against No. 14 Cornell, Whynot excelled again, securing a shootout win for the Crimson.

The Big Red (4-4-1, 1-3-1) was Harvard’s third nationally ranked opponent of its 2026-27 campaign and marked the first of a two-game trip to upstate New York, as the team also plays No. 8 Colgate on Saturday.

Cornell burst onto the ice with early energy, keeping the puck largely within Harvard’s defensive zone through the first four minutes. Despite the Big Red’s offensive effort, Whynot kept the slate clean.

Offensively, the Crimson struggled to get going, as the host’s defense stuffed any attempts to break past its blue line. Halfway through the period, Harvard had only registered one shot, which was not even on goal, compared to Cornell’s seven, four of which were on target. Yet, regardless of these numbers, the scoreboard still displayed a pair of goose eggs.

The Crimson got its first flashes of life in the offensive zone when the Big Red’s senior goaltender Annelies Bergmann tripped 11 minutes in, giving Harvard sophomore forward Carla McSweeney an open shot that, while not converted, gave her team some momentum heading into a media timeout.

After the brief break, the Crimson finally started spending some real time in the offensive zone, firing several shots on Bergmann.

By the end of the first period, despite Cornell’s initial advantage, Harvard had tallied six additional shots on goal, proving this game was anyone’s for the taking.

The fighting spirit, exhibited by both teams, continued into the second period.

Although a holding penalty on Crimson sophomore defenseman Bella Finnegan at the end of the first put Cornell on a power play, Harvard’s stalwart penalty kill remained impeccable through the start of the second period, as junior forward Emily Hamann broke up two passes and prevented the hosts from scoring.

However, nine minutes into the frame, Big Red senior forward Karel Prefontaine dished a quick pass to her teammate, junior forward Lindzi Avar, from behind the net. Avar fired a shot from point-blank range into the left side of the cage, drawing the first blood for the home team.

After multiple close calls from Cornell’s offense, it seemed the Big Red might continue its scoring from there.

But with a minute to go in the second period, Harvard freshman forward Lindsay Stepnowski jabbed the puck off Avar’s stick, setting up the opportunity to equalize. The South Glastonbury, Conn., native passed it to sophomore forward Elle Sproule, who then tapped it to fellow sophomore forward Morgan McGathey.

McGathey selflessly dished it back to Sproule, who slammed the puck past Bergmann and into the top left corner of the net, leveling the score at 1-1.

The Crimson continued to push forward into the third period. Sophomore forward Carla McSweeney passed the puck to senior forward Angelica Megdanis from the point, who then struck off Bergmann’s pads. Junior forward Ella Lucia, amid the crowd in the slot, found the puck and tipped it into the net, tallying her third goal of the season and giving Harvard a 2-1 lead.

For the next ten minutes, it seemed as if the Crimson had the Big Red’s number. Messy Cornell play enabled Megdanis and freshman forward Kate Stuart to each create good shot opportunities. On the other end of the rink, Whynot continued to record saves, including one clutch one during a four-on-four situation created by matching penalties on both teams.

However, with five minutes to go, Big Red junior defenseman Rose Dwyer carried the puck across the ice and wedged it between the left pad of Whynot and the post. Delayed celebration from Cornell’s bench and hesitant referees evidenced confusion among the sides, but after a Crimson challenge and a lengthy review, the goal was upheld, tying the game 2-2 and forcing overtime.

For most of the extra five-minute period, Harvard dominated possession, largely in part to a power play that started late in the third period. Cornell senior forward Delaney Fleming was sent to the sin bin for tripping, putting the Crimson on the power play for the start of overtime.

However, Harvard was unable to capitalize.

After killing the penalty, the Big Red had a few breakaway opportunities, spurred by Dwyer, but Whynot’s clutch saves ultimately extended the game to a shootout.

The Crimson and Cornell traded the first three shots. Bergmann saved captain Kaley MacDonald’s shot and then Whynot forced Prefontaine’s wide right. McSweeney then registered Harvard its first goal of the shootout, but Big Red senior defenseman Piper Grober responded, slipping the puck through Whynot’s five-hole to even the score. After yet another pair of misses, the shootout went to sudden death.

McGathey, swerving through the ice, confidently whipped the puck into the top of the net, putting pressure on the Cornell to respond.

However, Whynot had other plans. Avar’s dangles didn’t faze the goalie, who deflected the ensuing shot off the right pad and, ultimately, secured the Crimson the shootout victory.

After continuing its road trip against No. 8 Colgate (8-4, 2-2) on Saturday, Harvard will then take a week off from competition before playing a two-game series against Dartmouth on Nov. 27 and 28. Both contests against the Big Green will be streamed on ESPN+ at 3 p.m. EST, and the first game will be held at the Crimson’s Bright-Landry Hockey Center.