February 26, 2010

Botterill, Vaillancourt Win Olympic Gold

Sarah Vaillancourt (l) and Jennifer Botterill. Photo by Frank Gunn/Canadian Press
Sarah Vaillancourt (l) and Jennifer Botterill. Photo by Frank Gunn/Canadian Press

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Former Harvard All-American forward Jennifer Botterill '02-03 and Sarah Vaillancourt '08-09 helped Team Canada win the gold medal at the 2010 Olympics, as the Canadians defeated Team USA, 2-0, in the gold-medal game Thursday evening at Canada Hockey Place.

Crimson alumnae Angela Ruggeiro '02-04, Julie Chu '06-07 and Caitlin Cahow '07-08 earned silver medals while playing for the U.S. national team.

Botterill, who assisted on the game-winning goal at 13:55 of the first period, finished the Vancouver Games with three points, all on assists. Botterill, a four-time All-American and two-time Patty Kazmaier Award winner at Harvard, has now won three straight gold medals with Team Canada. Botterill is a four-time Olympic medalist, as she also earned the silver the Canadian national team in 1998.

Vaillancourt, a three-time All-American and Patty Kazmaier recipient in 2008, was the leading scorer among former Harvard players at the Olympic tournament. Vaillancourt, who earned her second gold medal as a member of Team Canada, netted three goals and added five assists for eight points.

For Team USA, Ruggiero, a four-time All-American and 2004 winner of the Patty Kazmaier Award, notched three goals and dished out two assists in Vancouver. Ruggiero, a defender, who was competing at her fourth Olympics, was named to the International Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission earlier on Feb. 25. Ruggiero has received four Olympic medals while playing with Team USA, including the gold in 1998.

Cahow, a blue liner, earned her second Olympic medal, while scoring two goals and dishing out two assists for four points at the Vancouver Games. Cahow also picked up the bronze with Team USA at the 2006 Torino Games.

Chu, a forward, who made her third trip to the Olympics, had two goals and four assists for six points in the six tournament games. Chu was the winner of the Patty Kazmaier Trophy in 2007. Chu has now two silver medals and one bronze in her Olympic career.