Union Blanked by No. 1 Harvard
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Caitlin Cahow and Sarah Wilson each tallied
power-play goals in the first period to lead No. 1 Harvard to a 4-0
victory over Union Friday evening at Bright Hockey Center. The
game marked the closest between the two teams in the all-time
series.
Cahow capitalized on Harvard's first power-play opportunity at
1:38, as she fired a shot from the right side for her team-leading
ninth power-play score of the season.
Freshman Katherine Chute doubled the Crimson lead three minutes
later, as she wrested the puck into the back of the net after
receiving a pass from classmate Kate Buesser.
Harvard (21-1-0, 17-0-0 ECAC Hockey) added a power-play goal later
in the stanza at 16:33, when Wilson blasted a shot from the blue
line. Kati Vaughn and Leanna Coskren collected assists for
the play as the Crimson headed to the locker room with a 3-0
advantage.
In the second period, the Crimson was called for two penalties
within 20 seconds, giving the Dutchwomen a 5-on-3 power play at
10:48. Harvard's penalty-kill unit stepped on the ice and did not
allow a shot by Union during the two-skater advantage.
With 41 seconds remaining in the period, Chute found Sarah
Vaillancourt cutting in front of the Union goal. Vaillancourt
cut to the left side and earned her 14th goal of the season.
Harvard's power play, which entered the game second in the country
(30 of 120, .250), scored twice on four opportunities, and the
Crimson was a perfect 2-for-2 on penalty-kill chances. Kylie
Stephens earned the first victory of her career, as she made the
start in net for the Crimson. The freshman goaltender turned
aside five shots, while Lundy Day (Calgary, Alb.) made 45 stops for
Union (3-22-2, 0-15-2 ECAC Hockey).
Friday's game also marked the return of former Crimson standout
Claudia Asano ‘99, who now serves as the head coach of
Union. Asano captained the 1999 Harvard squad to the American
Women's College Hockey Alliance Division I title. She later
served under Harvard head coach Katey Stone as a top assistant for
the Crimson from 2003-07.
Union is back in action Saturday in a 4 p.m. game at Dartmouth.
