Saturday afternoon at Bright the Crimson of Harvard were mastered by the
Northeastern Huskies 1-5.  NU is starting to get their passing game together
and were able to expose Harvard's flaws.  The Crimson seemed more interested
in running interference than getting involved in a hockey game.
 
The first period opened with Northeastern trying some experiments and
periodically pouring the pressure on in the Harvard zone.  The Crimson were
creating some plays, but looking brittle.  First-year Betsy Dyke gave NU a 0-1
lead when she knocked the puck in low to the far post.  Harvard tied the match
with a power play goal when Claudia Asano (Jen Gerometta, Angie Francisco)
buried her chance from the slot.  The play developed from a face-off and
featured a fair 1-2 pass out of the corner.
 
As the second period progressed, Northeastern's passing game started to click.
Stephanie Acres (Jessica Ferwerda) slipped one under the goalie to take the
lead for the Huskies.  Dyke got credit for the next NU goal when a Harvard
defender deflected her shot from the circle.  By that point the Husky fore-
checking schemes were in full flower and pressing Harvard to the limit.
Colleen Coen (Jennie Setaro, Kathryn Waldo) made it 1-4 NU when she redirected
a blast from the point by Setaro.  Lovely play!
 
In the final segment, Jennifer Santerre (Acres, Keri-Anne Allan) closed out
the scoring off a wonderful pass from Acres.  Harvard had been caught out of
position.  The last part of the game turned ugly, as Harvard did not represent
themselves well.
 
Northeastern is developing well.  Their mobility let them slip in and out of
places and create space.  The Husky passing game is starting to produce a nice
attacking shape.  The woman of the match was the exposed wrist line of Beth
Claggett, Sarah Smythe and Lisa Giovanelli.  Smythe looked real good cycling
around the zone and did so many little things well.  Giovanelli is a leech.
Her back-checking skills are super.  Claggett put together several nice moves
and passes.  She has the potential to be a dazzling forward.  Hilary Witt and
Acres both had their moments today.  Witt motored forward and shielded the
puck with her body.  She also did some excellent back-checking.  Acres started
to pull her marvelous artistry together with some refined shifts.  On the blue
line, Kim Beneduce and Ferwerda moved well as a pair.  Their penalty killing
was superb.  Setaro used her quickness and power well in her zone and dished
off some lovely disguised passes.  Jaime Totten's defensive skills were
fantastic.  She broke up rushes with ease and held it together at the back.
Erika Silva was in net and has the ability to make saves look simple.
Overall, the Huskies are improving.
 
It would appear that interference, holding and cross-checking are the primary
skills being taught the Harvard players.  The entertainment value of the
Crimson is approaching nil.  The best line was the occasional unit of Cory
Waldinger, Francisco and Kim McManama.  They were pretty solid together and
came up with some attacking ideas.  Francisco is looking real good.  She moves
so well and was back-checking and fore-checking like a dervish.  Back on
defense, Kyle Walsh hustled her way around the zone mopping up all kinds of
problems.  Courtney Smith also had a strong outing on the blue line and moved
the puck forward well.
 
 
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 good shooting
 hungerf
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