Campus & Community

Ice capades

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Harvard men’s, women’s hockey teams close out exciting regular seasons, head for playoffs

The Harvard men’s hockey team came into this year’s Beanpot Tournament with high hopes, having beaten two of their possible opponents, top 10-ranked Boston College and Boston University, earlier in the season. When Harvard and BU played on Feb. 3, the game was one for the ages.

The Crimson were up 3-1 midway through the second period, looking like a good bet to upset the then-No. 2 team in the country. But BU scored twice more in the second to pull even, with neither side able to find the net again in regulation. It was on to overtime, with a blank first period. Then, two minutes into the second overtime, BU’s Danny O’Regan, brother of Harvard forward Tommy O’Regan, scored the winner.

The Crimson had played well, especially goalie Steve Michalek, who set a Harvard and Beanpot record with 63 saves. Two weeks later, the Crimson lost again in overtime, this time 3-2 to BC.

The women’s team has been on a tear all season. Currently ranked No. 4 nationally, it beat Yale twice last weekend to clinch a spot in the ECAC semifinals this weekend. In the first game, Miye D’Oench and Sydney Daniels scored for the Crimson as they won, 2-1. It was Daniels’ sixth game-winning goal of the season. Emerance Maschmeyer was solid in goal with 22 saves, half of them coming in a hectic final period.

The following night, the teams played again, the format being a best-of-three series. This time the Crimson upped their game even more, shutting out their rivals 3-0 on the strength of Maschmeyer’s 24 saves. Sami Reber, Josephine Pucci, and Daniels scored for Harvard. Daniels again scored the game-winner.

The Harvard men will host Brown, the 11th seed, in a best-of-three ECAC series beginning Friday at 7 p.m. Game two will be played Saturday at the same time, as well as game three on Sunday, if necessary. The Harvard women face No. 3-seeded Quinnipiac on Saturday, with a chance to make the ECAC Championship Game the following day in Potsdam, N.Y.

For the latest updates, visit Harvard Athletics.

— Jon Chase

The Harvard women’s hockey team practices at Bright-Landry Hockey Center. The team is currently ranked fourth in the nation. After defeating Yale in the ECAC quarterfinals, the Crimson will face No. 3-seed Quinnipiac in the ECAC semifinals this Saturday. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer
Miye D’Oench ’16 high-steps as she flicks a puck toward goalie Emerance Maschmeyer ’16 during practice. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer
Crimson goalies Brianna Laing ’17, left, Emerance Maschmeyer ’16, center, and Molly Tissenbaum ’17, far right, converge for an impromptu meeting at mid-ice. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer
Katey Stone, the Landry Family Head Coach for Harvard women’s ice hockey, is the winningest coach in the history of Division I women’s hockey, with 402 victories. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer
Forward Jess Harvey ’16 looks to pass a loose puck in front of goalie Brianna Laing ’17. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer
The Harvard men’s hockey team stands for introductions before playing Clarkson at Bright-Landry Hockey Center on Jan. 16. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
Harvard’s Joey Caffrey is followed closely by Clarkson’s Pat Megannety. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
Crimson forward Philip Zielonka beats Clarkson’s goalie on the stick side to score the third goal. Harvard went on to win 6-3. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
Fans and players celebrate Harvard’s second goal of the night. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
Crimson players Wiley Sherman ’18 (from left), Desmond Bergin ’16, and Clay Anderson ’17 take a few quiet moments as they prepare to take the ice against their crosstown rivals Boston University in the Beanpot opening round. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer
Crimson forward Brian Hart ’16 reaches for his airborne stick after colliding with a BU player. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer
Crimson forward Eddie Ellis ’18 tries to shovel-pass the puck to a teammate despite being flat on the ice at TD Garden. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer
A small but vocal Crimson cheering section tries to outshout BU rivals as their teams battle on the ice. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer
Crimson defenseman Jake Horton ’18 tries to direct a bouncing puck past BU goaltender Matt O’Connor, to no avail. Teammate Seb Lloyd ’18 waits in the wings (right). Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer
Crimson co-captain Kyle Criscuolo ’16 goes airborne while getting off a pass to a teammate before dropping to his knees. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer
Forward Seb Lloyd ’18 lets out a yell while sprawling to the ice trying to maneuver between BU’s goalie and a defenseman. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer
The scoreboard at TD Garden shows the score tied before the start of the fifth period, or the second overtime. BU won the game with a goal just minutes into the second overtime. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer
Lexie Laing ’18 uses her body to protect the puck from her Yale opponent during the first ECAC quarterfinal game. Harvard won, 2-1. Laing has nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points, the fifth highest on the team. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
Sami Reber ’15 leads a charge up ice ahead of several Yale players during the first ECAC quarterfinal game. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
Abbey Frazer ’17 rushes to beat her Yale opponent to the puck during the first ECAC women’s hockey quarterfinal game. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
Harvard forward Haley Mullins ’18 tries to poke the puck past Yale’s goalie. Harvard won 2-1, and the following day beat Yale 3-0 to qualify for the semifinals. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer