Spring Break
Harvard Poses Tough Test For Women's Hockey
Kevin Vellturo
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Sports
Coming off a tough 6-3 loss at the hands of conference rival Boston College, the women's hockey team looks to rebound Friday night when it travels to Cambridge, Mass for a 7 p.m. match-up against No. 2 Harvard (9-0).
Last weekend's loss marked only the second conference loss of the year for No. 10 UConn (11-3-1), and came as a result of a loss of focus, according to head coach Heather Linstad.
"I think we became complacent during practice and during games," said Linstad. "We thought it was going to come easy."
In order to get back on the right track, Linstad stressed the importance of regaining the focus that her team had lost.
"We need to get re-focused," Linstad said. "I definitely noticed a change in practice on Monday compared to last week. They understand we need to go out and get the job done."
Harvard comes in to the weekend ranked No.2 in the country, and is the only team that has yet to record a loss or a tie - coming off a dominant 6-0 victory over Union (N.Y.) last weekend.
The Crimson are lead by junior forward Sarah Vaillancourt. Vaillancourt leads the team in points with 20, and is the reigning ECAC Player of the Week.
Despite holding a 10-2 all-time advantage over the Huskies, UConn came away with the 3-2 win last year.
Harvard leads the nation in a number of categories including scoring, defense and scoring margin, but the area Linstad is most concerned with is its power play efficiency, which also leads the nation.
"They are very good on special teams, so we will either have to allow them nothing or at least match them on power plays," Linstad said.
Though containing Harvard's potent power play attack is crucial, what will decide the game is how the Huskies play at even strength.
"We are going to have to beat them 5-on-5 if we want to win," Linstad said.
With Friday's game being UConn's final game for over three weeks until it plays Quinnipiac on Dec. 29, the importance of going into the break on a good note cannot be downplayed, but the fact it is going up against one of the best teams in the country gives the game added importance.
"Not only is it important to end on a good note, but this would be a big win regardless," Linstad said. "We want to stay nationally ranked and if we win people are going to have to take notice."
UConn is currently clinging to No.10 spot on the USCHO poll, having swapped spots with Boston College after going 0-1-1 in a pair of games with the Eagles. Hockey East rival New Hampshire currently occupies the No.1 spot with a record of 15-2, giving the eight-team conference three teams in the top-10.
Despite the winless week, three Huskies were named to the weekly Hockey East honor roll. Jody Sydor, Dominique Thibault, and Brittany Wilson all made the list.
Contact Kevin Vellturo
at Kevin.Vellturo@UConn.edu.
Last weekend's loss marked only the second conference loss of the year for No. 10 UConn (11-3-1), and came as a result of a loss of focus, according to head coach Heather Linstad.
"I think we became complacent during practice and during games," said Linstad. "We thought it was going to come easy."
In order to get back on the right track, Linstad stressed the importance of regaining the focus that her team had lost.
"We need to get re-focused," Linstad said. "I definitely noticed a change in practice on Monday compared to last week. They understand we need to go out and get the job done."
Harvard comes in to the weekend ranked No.2 in the country, and is the only team that has yet to record a loss or a tie - coming off a dominant 6-0 victory over Union (N.Y.) last weekend.
The Crimson are lead by junior forward Sarah Vaillancourt. Vaillancourt leads the team in points with 20, and is the reigning ECAC Player of the Week.
Despite holding a 10-2 all-time advantage over the Huskies, UConn came away with the 3-2 win last year.
Harvard leads the nation in a number of categories including scoring, defense and scoring margin, but the area Linstad is most concerned with is its power play efficiency, which also leads the nation.
"They are very good on special teams, so we will either have to allow them nothing or at least match them on power plays," Linstad said.
Though containing Harvard's potent power play attack is crucial, what will decide the game is how the Huskies play at even strength.
"We are going to have to beat them 5-on-5 if we want to win," Linstad said.
With Friday's game being UConn's final game for over three weeks until it plays Quinnipiac on Dec. 29, the importance of going into the break on a good note cannot be downplayed, but the fact it is going up against one of the best teams in the country gives the game added importance.
"Not only is it important to end on a good note, but this would be a big win regardless," Linstad said. "We want to stay nationally ranked and if we win people are going to have to take notice."
UConn is currently clinging to No.10 spot on the USCHO poll, having swapped spots with Boston College after going 0-1-1 in a pair of games with the Eagles. Hockey East rival New Hampshire currently occupies the No.1 spot with a record of 15-2, giving the eight-team conference three teams in the top-10.
Despite the winless week, three Huskies were named to the weekly Hockey East honor roll. Jody Sydor, Dominique Thibault, and Brittany Wilson all made the list.
Contact Kevin Vellturo
at Kevin.Vellturo@UConn.edu.
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