As we were saying over on the Harvard thread, that BC/Harvard game was a hell of a game, played at top speed and intensity for all but the first few minutes of the third period.
It wasn't just a great game of hockey, it specifically showcased the virtues of the no-checking variety of the game: it was fast, fluid and highly skilled.
Harvard have the reputation for being the better defensive team, BC for being better offensively, and the play bore that out. It seemed that BC had more possession and more good chances, though the shot total was as usual an overestimate of the number of serious shots that BC had -- as often happens, we had a lot of breakaways that just ended with a mid-range shot at an unscreened goalie, and you can't expect that to work with Maschmeyer.
The BC PK was excellent, the PP less good. The Harvard PK was very defensive and effective, the BC PK very aggressive. There was one memorable BC PK at (I think) the start of the third where they seemed to be in the Harvard zone for at least 90 of the 120 seconds and set up almost an inverse PP pattern that Harvard were unable to disrupt. Would have been a good time for one of our shorties but you can't get those every game.
Miye D'Oench's early goal was top quality: she spotted a small hole above Boyles' shoulder and put the puck right through it. After that she was shut down effectively by the BC defense. On our side, Skarupa managed a few breakaways and didn't get the physical punishment she sometimes does, but wasn't able to convert them. Emily Pfalzer, who's been low-key this season, was strong all game even leaving aside her goal: very fast and well positioned. She had some injury at the end of last year and maybe the recovery took longer than expected, but hopefully this game is a sign that she's all the way back.
On our line-up: Grieves and McLean dressed for our fourth mini-line: McLean saw a decent amount of ice in the second and third periods, I didn't see Grieves out there. Wedell and Kickham were dressed for D but I don't think they played. Lemieux, Movsessian, Fish, and Taylor Blake didn't dress.
A bit chippy at times, with Maschmeyer taking a penalty at one point and some hitting after the whistle, but a great game against great opponents. Shame to see the break come now, the Eagles look like they're really hitting their stride.
