USCHO Fan Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.
Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
- Thread starter Skate79
- Start date
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
Not really although it would have been nice to come out with a W. After seeing the Crimson tonight however, I realize that even at full strength we aren't going to be able to skate with the top tier teams. We don't have enough firepower to go toe to toe with Cornell or Minnesota.
Not really although it would have been nice to come out with a W. After seeing the Crimson tonight however, I realize that even at full strength we aren't going to be able to skate with the top tier teams. We don't have enough firepower to go toe to toe with Cornell or Minnesota.
brookyone
Deport Right Wing Nuts
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
We'll have some more insight on this matter shortly...be it true or not. The trip to Harvard gives me considerable concern nonetheless.
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
A few thoughts on last night's game vs. Clarkson:
Jo Pucci has free reign or at least somewhat free reign to take chances in the offensive zone. Reminds one a lot of Angela Ruggiero in the way she attacks the net and jumps into the play. She has hockey instincts you just can't teach. Defensively, she needs to improve but her offensive skill is very impressive.
Harvard played a sloppy game for the most part. Passing was off, D zone turnovers were aplenty and they never really got their skating legs going until midway through the second period. Had it not been for Bellamy's three quick immense saves in the second and her steady play in the third, Harvard would have lost the game.
Best goal of the night was the first for Harvard on the PP. Gorgeous pass from Gina MacDonald to Jillian Dempsey who roofed a wrister to tie the game at 1.
Part of Harvard's problems were related directly to Clarkson's ability to clog the middle of the ice from the red line back to their goalie. They never gave Harvard any space to work the cycle and set up opportunities. The Lady Engineers did a very good job of keeping the Crimson for getting any decent looks at their goalie.
Finally, the Crimson's best moments came with three minutes to play when they had to kill off a 5 on 3. Was a little surprised that Clarkson didn't try to pull their goalie and make it a 6 on 3 even with that amount of time remaining. Risky but it would have given them a lot of options. Fortunately, Clarkson isn't that skilled offensively and Harvard was able to survive.
Bring on the Saints. Surprising result from Thompson - when was the last time the Green were shut out at home? Hope the Saints left their best in Hanover.
A few thoughts on last night's game vs. Clarkson:
Jo Pucci has free reign or at least somewhat free reign to take chances in the offensive zone. Reminds one a lot of Angela Ruggiero in the way she attacks the net and jumps into the play. She has hockey instincts you just can't teach. Defensively, she needs to improve but her offensive skill is very impressive.
Harvard played a sloppy game for the most part. Passing was off, D zone turnovers were aplenty and they never really got their skating legs going until midway through the second period. Had it not been for Bellamy's three quick immense saves in the second and her steady play in the third, Harvard would have lost the game.
Best goal of the night was the first for Harvard on the PP. Gorgeous pass from Gina MacDonald to Jillian Dempsey who roofed a wrister to tie the game at 1.
Part of Harvard's problems were related directly to Clarkson's ability to clog the middle of the ice from the red line back to their goalie. They never gave Harvard any space to work the cycle and set up opportunities. The Lady Engineers did a very good job of keeping the Crimson for getting any decent looks at their goalie.
Finally, the Crimson's best moments came with three minutes to play when they had to kill off a 5 on 3. Was a little surprised that Clarkson didn't try to pull their goalie and make it a 6 on 3 even with that amount of time remaining. Risky but it would have given them a lot of options. Fortunately, Clarkson isn't that skilled offensively and Harvard was able to survive.
Bring on the Saints. Surprising result from Thompson - when was the last time the Green were shut out at home? Hope the Saints left their best in Hanover.
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
I'm hoping that it will be a close and exciting series but Harvard doesn't have much offensive skill past their first line. Shut down Dempsey and Fry and you have a very good chance of winning both games.
I'm hoping that it will be a close and exciting series but Harvard doesn't have much offensive skill past their first line. Shut down Dempsey and Fry and you have a very good chance of winning both games.
brookyone
Deport Right Wing Nuts
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
I'm hoping Minnesota does well and gets the rankings benefit they need out of the series. They'll likely be surrendering the WCHA conference lead in the process.
ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
A WCHA lead that they really haven't owned since losing in Bemidji, because UW has had a better conference winning %. I'll be happy if Minnesota plays to its ability on a trip to Boston, something that I don't think they've done the past three seasons. I get the feeling that this is going to be the best Crimson team since 2007-2008, so it'll be fun to see how we match up.
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
Our '07'-'08 team had two Olympians Sarah Vallaincourt and Caitlin Cahow plus a very strong supporting cast with great depth. Not the case this year. While Jo Pucci and Jillian Dempsey are first rate players and Laura Bellamy is gaining confidence and playing better, the younger players are still trying to establish their identity and raise their skill level to the demands of collegiate D-1. They are good but not first tier talent that Minnesota, Wisco or Cornell have on their respective rosters. As such, I think we will compete hard but come up short.
Our '07'-'08 team had two Olympians Sarah Vallaincourt and Caitlin Cahow plus a very strong supporting cast with great depth. Not the case this year. While Jo Pucci and Jillian Dempsey are first rate players and Laura Bellamy is gaining confidence and playing better, the younger players are still trying to establish their identity and raise their skill level to the demands of collegiate D-1. They are good but not first tier talent that Minnesota, Wisco or Cornell have on their respective rosters. As such, I think we will compete hard but come up short.
ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
I didn't mean to imply that the current team is as good as the 2007-08 team that ran the ECAC table; sorry if I phrased it incorrectly. I realize that Sarah V. was still around in 2008-09, but I think that your team this year has more overall talent. The question may wind up being if they are as good as your 2009-10 team before Kessler was injured, because they were obviously a tough team to beat while they had her. The current Crimson look to have a very good blue line -- interesting to see which D corps performs better this weekend -- and Bellamy to date shows signs of taking a big step forward from last season.
Dr. Seuss Fan
New member
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
Check the Harvard Womens' hockey site - should have pay per view information.
Check the Harvard Womens' hockey site - should have pay per view information.
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
No problem. The 08-09 team was heavy with seniors and really underachieved. They should have gone to the NCAAs that year. The 09-'10 team was a transition team that benefitted from Katherine Farni's leadership (she will most likely be at this weekend's series - her parents are wonderful people) along with Kessler until she was hurt. That was a big loss although Bellamy did her best.
Bellamy does look like she is taking a step forward. She played very well against Clarkson making several outstanding saves to keep the Crimson in the game. She'll need to bring her "A" game with her this weekend if we have any chance of winning one or both games.
No problem. The 08-09 team was heavy with seniors and really underachieved. They should have gone to the NCAAs that year. The 09-'10 team was a transition team that benefitted from Katherine Farni's leadership (she will most likely be at this weekend's series - her parents are wonderful people) along with Kessler until she was hurt. That was a big loss although Bellamy did her best.
Bellamy does look like she is taking a step forward. She played very well against Clarkson making several outstanding saves to keep the Crimson in the game. She'll need to bring her "A" game with her this weekend if we have any chance of winning one or both games.
ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
She'll have momentum -- or lack thereof -- on her side. By Saturday, it will be just a day short of seven years since the last time the Gophers scored a goal in Bright Arena.
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
Tough game tonight at Bright. The Crimson gave this one away with two egregious giveaways in the second period. They had all the momentum and then before you could say Gobble Gobble, it was 2-1 Dartmouth and you could feel the life sucked out of the Crimson. They came back in the third to put pressure on the Green but again gave up a so-so goal to go down 3-1. Jillian Dempsey netted one with 45 ticks left but truth be told, the game was over long before that.
Harvard has two big problems so far. Very loose and careless play in their own end and a lack of sharpness in passing and executing plays especially in the offensive zone. The former is correctable; the latter may be more difficult to address because of a lack of skill up front. Beyond the first line, Harvard really struggles to get a cycle going. I lost count of how many times they missed the net with clear shots on goal. And still with all of these issues, they should have won tonight's game. Holdcroft was solid for the Green but often we hit her right in the gut with shots. We rarely looked to pick a spot and she gave the Crimson some good looks and openings. We just can't seem to take advantage.
I don't have a good feeling about the series against Minnesota. I really think we are going to get blasted by the Gophers. Bellamy I'm sure will do her best but without D support and a lack of pop up front, we will struggle to stay in the game. I hope I'm wrong but I don't see the evidence pointing to a successful series this weekend.
Tough game tonight at Bright. The Crimson gave this one away with two egregious giveaways in the second period. They had all the momentum and then before you could say Gobble Gobble, it was 2-1 Dartmouth and you could feel the life sucked out of the Crimson. They came back in the third to put pressure on the Green but again gave up a so-so goal to go down 3-1. Jillian Dempsey netted one with 45 ticks left but truth be told, the game was over long before that.
Harvard has two big problems so far. Very loose and careless play in their own end and a lack of sharpness in passing and executing plays especially in the offensive zone. The former is correctable; the latter may be more difficult to address because of a lack of skill up front. Beyond the first line, Harvard really struggles to get a cycle going. I lost count of how many times they missed the net with clear shots on goal. And still with all of these issues, they should have won tonight's game. Holdcroft was solid for the Green but often we hit her right in the gut with shots. We rarely looked to pick a spot and she gave the Crimson some good looks and openings. We just can't seem to take advantage.
I don't have a good feeling about the series against Minnesota. I really think we are going to get blasted by the Gophers. Bellamy I'm sure will do her best but without D support and a lack of pop up front, we will struggle to stay in the game. I hope I'm wrong but I don't see the evidence pointing to a successful series this weekend.
Watson Rink
Registered User
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
As we've known from the beginning of the season, the more fundamental problem is depth and youth, the solution won't arrive until next October, and in the meantime we're going to have to accentuate the positives as they occur during this building year.
It looks like the two forwards who've given expressions of interest for next year have scored some key goals in club play at the national level, so perhaps they will help address the recent lack of "snipahs" that Skate79 points out, that has plagued the team since at least the graduation of Jenny Brine (not to mention Nicole Correiro). Having a seventh D on the roster will help fill the gap when one of your Four Nations D's can't play and once again you're skating a five-pack on the back line. What you've got this season is a bunch of hardworking kids who play their hearts out backchecking, winning turnovers, putting pressure in the offensive zone, doing all the things that make coaches proud, but getting touched out at the Top 10 level because their scoring touch hasn't matured enough to make up for their occasional errors. I chose the word "matured" specifically with Randi Griffin in mind -- you'll recall that her scoring touch took three and a half years to mature, but when it did....!! If you had assessed her game at the end of her junior year, you'd have said "just another grinder with a ton of heart but not a scorer." Boy, was it worth waiting for her scoring touch to click.
So, for the moment, have patience, admit the manifest truth of Skate79's critiques, but see how the squad can develop this year and next.
As we've known from the beginning of the season, the more fundamental problem is depth and youth, the solution won't arrive until next October, and in the meantime we're going to have to accentuate the positives as they occur during this building year.
It looks like the two forwards who've given expressions of interest for next year have scored some key goals in club play at the national level, so perhaps they will help address the recent lack of "snipahs" that Skate79 points out, that has plagued the team since at least the graduation of Jenny Brine (not to mention Nicole Correiro). Having a seventh D on the roster will help fill the gap when one of your Four Nations D's can't play and once again you're skating a five-pack on the back line. What you've got this season is a bunch of hardworking kids who play their hearts out backchecking, winning turnovers, putting pressure in the offensive zone, doing all the things that make coaches proud, but getting touched out at the Top 10 level because their scoring touch hasn't matured enough to make up for their occasional errors. I chose the word "matured" specifically with Randi Griffin in mind -- you'll recall that her scoring touch took three and a half years to mature, but when it did....!! If you had assessed her game at the end of her junior year, you'd have said "just another grinder with a ton of heart but not a scorer." Boy, was it worth waiting for her scoring touch to click.
So, for the moment, have patience, admit the manifest truth of Skate79's critiques, but see how the squad can develop this year and next.
papulaisle
Registered User
Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
From above, Skate..."We don't have enough firepower to go toe to toe with Cornell or Minnesota." (or Dartmouth...)
Easy. Ver.
U all lookin' only at Minn.
See u in Hanover.
I do wish WE had this Fry gal!
Maniac
From above, Skate..."We don't have enough firepower to go toe to toe with Cornell or Minnesota." (or Dartmouth...)
Easy. Ver.
U all lookin' only at Minn.
See u in Hanover.
I do wish WE had this Fry gal!
Maniac
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
Having seen Harvard last night, and Minny under a week ago, I concur with your forecast. It will be interesting to see what Harvard can muster against a very tight defense and a world class netminder.
Not to mention the offense, and I don't just mean forwards. Beware Minny's neutral zone play - it's a killer.
I suspect the first game will be one of adjustment, and the second will be the closer of the two. Looking forward to that one. (particularly since I won't be shelling out $15.00
a ticket to see it)
From above, Skate..."We don't have enough firepower to go toe to toe with Cornell or Minnesota." (or Dartmouth...)
Easy. Ver.
U all lookin' only at Minn.
See u in Hanover.
I do wish WE had this Fry gal!
Maniac
Having seen Harvard last night, and Minny under a week ago, I concur with your forecast. It will be interesting to see what Harvard can muster against a very tight defense and a world class netminder.
Not to mention the offense, and I don't just mean forwards. Beware Minny's neutral zone play - it's a killer.
I suspect the first game will be one of adjustment, and the second will be the closer of the two. Looking forward to that one. (particularly since I won't be shelling out $15.00
a ticket to see it)papulaisle
Registered User
Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
In Pee Wee hockey is taught- focus. Don't look ahead.
Sign of immaturity, alas.
C'mon Crims., show us how.
U leader o no?
Maybe u back in the, 'stall'? Like yrs. past where Crims. no show until way, way late- say March.
We, "after all, Harvard College; we do not HAVE to dig/work regularly."
Maybe why Nation struggling here so...
Whoa.
Taking the next step? Maybe (taking) the first step be better?
Still like Fry- no fear: shoots, shoots some more!
LIKE!
In Pee Wee hockey is taught- focus. Don't look ahead.
Sign of immaturity, alas.
C'mon Crims., show us how.
U leader o no?
Maybe u back in the, 'stall'? Like yrs. past where Crims. no show until way, way late- say March.
We, "after all, Harvard College; we do not HAVE to dig/work regularly."
Maybe why Nation struggling here so...
Whoa.
Taking the next step? Maybe (taking) the first step be better?
Still like Fry- no fear: shoots, shoots some more!
LIKE!
brookyone
Deport Right Wing Nuts
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
LOL...now that's an original concept. The USA is, to it's demise...in Crimson hockey mode?
At least I think that's the crux.
LOL...now that's an original concept.
The USA is, to it's demise...in Crimson hockey mode? At least I think that's the crux.
OnMAA
Vort Doen.....Heija Heija Heija
Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step
$15 for Gopher tickets. Wow. Maybe that is to make up for all the Freebies for others.
(particularly since I won't be shelling out $15.00
$15 for Gopher tickets. Wow. Maybe that is to make up for all the Freebies for others
.