Thursday night at Bright Hockey Center, Harvard extended its win
streak to 4-0 as they beat Boston College in a game that was closer
than the score indicates.  The Eagles were without outstanding first-
year player Karen Emma (injured?, but behind the bench).  The Crimson
scored goals, but need much work on their skating.
 
The game:  BC opened the scoring when Tobin Dominick (Kate Antos)
cashed in on an early Harvard defensive error.  Defender Dominick
finished the play off with a nice shot.  Harvard tied the game when
AJ Mleczko (Jo-anne Alissi, Holly Leitzes) took a quick feed from
the boards and drilled her snap-shot home.  In the second period,
the Crimson took the lead on a nice rush and center out of the corner
as AJ (Alissi, Stacy Kellogg) sniped in another from the slot.
Harvard went up 3-1 when Francie Walton scored an unassisted goal
off a pile up in the crease.  The goal was made by the efforts of AJ,
who by that point in time had the BC defense entirely occupied.
In the third period, the Eagles made it close when Antos scored
an unassisted goal off a Harvard defensive breakdown.  The
Crimson put the game away when AJ (Alissi, Kellogg) finished her
hat trick on another out of the corner pass, and another drilled
snap-shot.  Joey Alissi made this goal with her skating and passing.
 
The BC Eagles looked a lesser side without Karen Emma.  Get well
soon!  Goalie Kristin Gray had a strong game.  She stopped several
flurries of shots at point-blank range.  I was impressed again by
the defender Tracey Labossiere.  She is a good heads up player who
can make the telling outlet pass.  Tobin Dominick also played well
on defense.  Heidi Anderson and her linemates: Antos and Laura
Traynham had some good scoring chances.  Anderson showed some
good skating while she helped create the rushes.  I also thought
Amy Tiernan had good anticipation.  Overall, BC played real good.
It is a pity they are not in the new ECAC.
 
Harvard has an interesting team this year.  It is lead by goalie
Erin Villiotte.  She has changed her style somewhat, becoming more
of a stand-up goalie than she was.  She is also going out to cut
down the angles more.  While she was not up for BC, I look for her
to play extremely well this season as she gears up to try and make
the USA National Team.  On defense, the Crimson is going with 2
defensive pairs.  Holly Leitzes and Francie Walton looked somewhat
unstable last night.  Sophomore Leitzes has smoothed out her skating
and is playing real strong.  Her ability to carry the puck, pass and
read the play are making her the best player on the defense these
days.  Walton needs to give serious attention to her skating.  The
other pairing is Winkie Mleczko and first-year player Colleen Malek.
Winkie is still stepping up and making the play on her blueline.
Last night she made some of the better outlet passes.  Malek seems
a steady defender who has a good shot from the point.  On offense,
the first line is Kellogg, AJ, Alissi.  Joey Alissi is Harvard's
best offensive player.  She skates hard, sets up her linemates, and
has the skill to hold onto the puck and then make the telling pass.
On short-handed situations she was brilliant last night at killing
time by just skating around with the puck in the BC corners.  Kellogg
has improved her skating.  That has given her the chance to be in the
right places.  And then there's AJ!  After all the hype, AJ Mleczko
is a player with a tremendous shot.  She has real good hands.  She is
big, and has a large reach.  While AJ is good at passing to others,
her main asset is that when she gets the puck in front of the net,
she puts it away.  AJ as a national player?  I don't think so, unless
she were to gain more mobility by improve her skating, she will find
it tough going against teams like Providence or UNH.  The second
line is Calagione, Clark and Schutt.  Center Diana Clark played
a fairly good game.  First-year player Christa Calagione has a lot
of desire.  Her skating is ok, and she has the sense to move to
the open areas.  Linemate and fellow first-year player Kate Schutt
is a fun player to watch.  Her short choppy skating style makes
for an interesting motion on the ice.  Last night she played mainly
as a defensive forward.  As a line, they could do much for Harvard
as the year progresses.  The third line, which played the 1st period
and only a few more shifts in the 2nd & 3rd (Booooo) is Hall, Frump
and Duval.  Megan Hall looked rusty.  Ellen Frump getting a chance
to play forward had some good hustle.  First-year play Jennifer
Duval looked like a fairly talent player.  With more ice time
she could become a strong player.  Backup goalie Whitney Smith,
and first-year defenders Lauren Turner and Alexis Boyle saw no
action last night.
 
The power play team was Alissi and Leitzes at the points, with
Kellogg, AJ and Clark down low.  Having Joey Alissi at the point
is smart.  She can control the play from there.  Leitzes and AJ
seem to have developed a strong partnership already, as they hooked
up on the man advantage.
 
Overall, Harvard's strength is in goal.  The positional defense can
get caught extremely flat, and so for a skating and passing team is
easy to beat.  If there is an offensive plan, it is extremely well
hidden.  For the most part, the Crimson Women use a hope and pray
that we can get it to Joey or AJ "attack".  They carry it until
someone finally gets into position.  Last night Harvard was doing
much too much waiting and reaching for the puck and not enough
skating.  Ah there's the rub!  The whole team needs to put a major
effort towards skating.  Mobility and Harvard just doesn't mix.
Without it, there is little anticipation, and no flow.  For now
the static offense relies an a few individuals to be inspired.
There is no doubt, with AJ, Joey and Holly that the team is
going to score more goals this year.  However, unless they develop
the basic skills more, they will not be challenging the Big 5.
 
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 good shooting
 rhun
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