Crimson Streak Reaches Nine with Win at Union

Box Score  

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Six different Crimson players scored goals and the No. 2 Harvard women's hockey team held Union to six shots en route to a 6-0 win over the Dutchwomen Saturday afternoon at Messa Rink.

Harvard (9-0-0, 9-0-0 ECAC Hockey) scored three goals in each of the first two periods. Sophomore Anna McDonald and junior Sarah Vaillancourt each recorded a goal and two assists for the Crimson, which won its ninth straight game to start the year and remained the nation's only unbeaten team. It was Harvard's first game against former captain and assistant coach Claudia Asano '99, now the Union head coach.

Senior Caitlin Cahow, junior Sarah Wison and freshman Liza Ryabkina each notched a goal and an assist for the Crimson, which held a 61-6 edge in total shots on goal. Sophomore Cori Bassett also scored for Harvard, and freshman Leanna Coskren registered two assists.

Lundy Day made 55 saves for the Dutchwomen (1-13-0, 0-6-0). She stopped all 13 Harvard shots in the third period. In the Crimson goal, junior Brittany Martin made four saves in two periods of action, and freshman Kylie Stephens made her collegiate debut in the third period, stopping both shots to come her way.

Despite a 22-2 advantage in first-period shots, Harvard did not break through until the 15:40 mark of the first on a Vaillancourt rebound goal. Ryabkina had the initial shot after a pass from Kate Buesser as Vaillancourt claimed ninth place on Harvard's career scoring list with her 141st point for the Crimson.

The Crimson added two more goals in less than three minutes. McDonald scored with a five-hole shot just 25 seconds after Vaillancourt following passes from Wilson and Coskren. Wilson then added first of three power-play goals in six chances for Harvard at the 18:01 mark. McDonald and freshman Katharine Chute registered helpers on the advantage goal.

Ryabkina continued the offensive onslaught at 3:24 of the second. Vaillancourt took a long pass from Cahow at the Union blue line, skated wide to the right and passed across to Ryabkina, waiting on the left for the finish.

Cahow got a goal of her own on the power play at the 11:22 mark, with junior Jenny Brine and Vaillancourt assisting. Bassett notched her second goal of the season less than two minutes later on the power play. McDonald and Coskren picked up their second assists of the game.