Box Score
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - On Senior Day at Messa Rink, the Union College women's ice hockey team fought valiantly against the nationally ranked #5 Harvard Crimson (17-6-4), but could not pull off the upset as they lost, 2-1. The win gives Harvard a 12-6-2 record in ECAC Hockey play, while Union is now 1-17-1 in conference play and 5-25-1 overall.
Today's contest was the final home game for senior Jackie Kotteritz.
After a scoreless first period for both teams, Harvard struck first on an unassisted goal by Kate Buesser at 3:05 of the second. Buesser's first shot was deflected, but a second effort saw the puck sneak past the glove side of Union netminder Kate Gallagher' to give Buesser her team leading 12th goal of the season. Harvard found the net again at 9:37 on a power play goal from Randi Griffin (five goals this season). The play developed as senior Katheryn Farni (13 assists this season) slid the puck up to junior Leanna Coskren (nine assists this season), and Cosken's slap shot was deflected into the net by Randi Griffin. It was Griffin's fifth tally of the year.
Union responded at the 11:36 mark of the period, as Chelsey Heinhuis scored her second goal of the season on a tremendous slapper from just inside the top left of the blue line. Assisted by Lauren Cromartie, who registered her fourth assist on the season and seventh point overall, and Molly Kate Devin (five assists on the season), Heinhuis provided a lift for Union going into the third period down just one goal against the nation's fifth ranked team.
Union applied the pressure in the third period, as a near miss from Marissa Gentile on a pass from Emma Rambo at 15:05 could have knotted up the score at 2-2. Union played with an empty net for the final 1:32 of play, but came up short looking for the elusive equalizing goal.
Gallagher was solid throughout the entire contest, stopping 34 shots on the afternoon.
The Dutchwomen conclude the season next weekend at Colgate on Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. and then to Cornell on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m.
