SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - Junior Sophie Matsoukas surpassed another benchmark in her illustrious Union career Wednesday night, recording her 2,000th career save in garnet in Union's 3-1 loss to Harvard.
 
After becoming Union's all-time wins leader earlier this year in the team's win at #15 Penn State, Matsoukas was able to reach her next milestone quickly in Wednesday's contest, coming into the game just one save away from the two thousand mark. Her save on Harvard's first shot on goal 4:15 into the game saw the junior become the third goalie in program history to do so.
 
Union controlled the first six minutes of the game, but was only able to register three shots on net in that time before Harvard took a turn with the momentum. They wouldn't maintain their grip on the game for long however, committing three penalties in the final 9:24 of the period to give Union the first three power plays of the evening. While the Garnet Chargers weren't able to cash in in the opening 20 minutes, they took a 14-9 shots advantage and power play time in their pocket into the locker room.
 
Union would be unable to find the back of the net with the remaining 2:29 of their power play they took into the second period after a five-minute Harvard major occurred late in the first, but turned the momentum from that extended advantage into a goal shortly thereafter.
 
Less than a minute and a half after the game went back to 5-on-5, Union maintained some extended zone time thanks to some impressive forechecking from their fourth line. The unit was able to change out for Union's first line while keeping Harvard in their own zone before senior Celeste Beaudoin took possession of the puck on the right wall. Beaudoin sent a pass up to junior Emma Hebert at the point, who then played some pitch-and-catch with her d-partner Stephanie Bourque. Bourque eventually took advantage of some open ice in front of her, faking inside before cutting back to the left and firing a snipe short side high from the circle for her second goal in the last three games.
 
Facing the first deficit of the night, Harvard was awoken. The Crimson turned up the pressure on Union, and five and a half minutes later brought the game right back even as Gwynn Lapp took possession off a shot initially blocked by Union to tie the game up at one.
 
Like Union did earlier in the period, Harvard later turned a momentum from a strong power play into a goal of their own. 30 seconds after Union successfully killed off Harvard's first advantage of the night, Paige Lester finished home Gabi Davidson Adams' rebound off a two-on-one breakaway to take their first lead of the night just about halfway through the middle frame.
 
In the third, Harvard wouldn't fail to pass up on the second power play opportunity given to them, as traffic in front of Matsoukas turned into a deflection right in front of her from a shot at the point, and Lapp finished off her second goal of the game to add some insurance with 11:34 left.
 
Harvard however would leave the door open for Union, drawing two penalties within the final 5:15. Union wasn't afraid to fire the puck on net with those opportunities, firing four shots on Harvard goalie Emily Davidson each time, but couldn't quite solve the Crimson goalie who continued the strong start to her career with 34 saves in the victory.
 
In the loss, Union accounted for 35 shots, their third most in a game this season, and outside the 62 they tallied in the 6-0 shutout of Saint Michael's on New Year's Day, was their most in a game since they credited 34 in the December 9th win against Rensselaer.
 
Beaudoin's assist off Bourque's goal made it three points in the last three games for the Ontario native who has now picked up seven points in the last nine games. Bourque tallied a game- and career-high six shots, while senior Meredith Killian and sophomore Riley Walsh each accounted for four shots apiece.
 
While Union was unable to solve their power play woes of recent, it was an encouraging effort for the Garnet Chargers who fired 14 shots on net in their five chances, their most in a game since they accounted for 19 in their seven chances October 21st at Dartmouth.
 
Union won 33 of the 50 faceoffs on the evening, tied for their third-most in a game this season and most since they won 47 in the win at Saint Michael's. Beaudoin led the way with a season-high 16 victories, while junior Ashley Adams followed with a season-high 11 of her own and an impressive 78.6 win percentage.

Matsoukas made 17 saves.
 
Union will have no time to sit back on the loss with just one day off before Brown and Yale come to Schenectady as the Garnet Chargers return to the conventional two-game weekend. They'll face off with the Bears first, as the two teams are set to meet Friday night at 6 before Union takes on the Bulldogs for their annual Faculty & Staff Appreciation Game Saturday at 3.