Sunday, December 6th, 1992.
 
The Harvard Women's Hockey team hosted St. Laurent in a return match after
Harvard's Turkey Day visitation to the isle of Montreal.
 
Harvard played only 3 defensive players and used 2 forward lines, the second
line alternating between 4 players.  That was a little odd since 2 of the 4
players prefer to, and are better at playing defense.
 
The first period saw Harvard start out with a one goal lead.  Winkie Mleczko
took a slap shot from the right point.  The St. Laurent goalie was screened by
several of her defenders and two Harvard forwards.  I thought either Ellen
Frump or Diana Clark had tipped the shot in, but Winkie got the goal.  This
led to great expectations from the supporters, some of whom had seen St.
Laurent dominate a 2-0 victory in Canada.
 
The second period might as well have not been played, as both teams seemed
to be waiting for someone else to start playing.
 
The third period saw St. Laurent's Pelletier and her line come out firing.
The result was an early tying goal.  Up until that point I had not been very
impressed with the canadiens play, but after the second intermission they
reminded me of a good Ivy League team.  St. Laurent went ahead near the end
of the game as Harvard was pressing.  A long breakout pass found Cormier who
went in all alone and beat Erin Villiotte high to the glove side.  Wonderful
goal.
 
With about 2 minutes left one of the refs. (who also is a Harvard assistant
coach) gave St. Laurent a dubious high sticking penalty.  Harvard put on the
pressure, and after a Holly Leitzes shot from the left point, Joey Alissi
managed to poke in a bouncing rebound.  The Harvard supporters were thrilled.
There were 34 seconds left.  St. Laurent preceded to take the ensuing faceoff
and set up for one last cannonade in the Harvard zone. After about a half
dozen saves by Villiotte, St. Laurent's Cormier picked up a rebound in the
left slot and fired it home.  They were delirious.  There were now 7 seconds
left.  Clock runs out, game over.
 
I thought at times both teams played well.  Harvard needs to work on its
skating, and use of the players it has.
 
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   as always,
   hockey, hockey, footer,
   rhun
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