The St. Lawrence University women's hockey team rallied from a 3-0 deficit, pulling to within a goal at 3-2 in the third period against nationally-ranked No. 8 Harvard University on Friday night at Appleton Arena. Despite outshooting the Crimson 28-20 in the contest, the Saints were unable to score the tying goal and were done in by four penalties in the third period.

Harvard improves to 4-1-0 (4-1-0) after hanging on to the 3-2 victory, while St. Lawrence falls to 4-7-0 (3-2-0).

"This was another very exciting game versus Harvard. Up and down the ice, the way the game is fun to play," said St. Lawrence head coach Chris Wells. "Harvard did an excellent job capitalizing on some early chances. We felt good all night with our play, but Emerance made some nice stops to give them a one-goal win."

The Crimson was the more opportunistic team in the first 20:00 minutes, and that proved to be key in the final box score. Samantha Reber put the visitors up 1-0 off a pass from Dylanne Crugnale only 4:26 into the first, and Sarah Edney converted a 2-on-1 try at 10:26 for a 2-0 cushion. Sydney Daniels' first collegiate goal made it 3-0, as she batted home a rebound in front of St. Lawrence goalie Carmen MacDonald at the 17:46 mark to cap the period's scoring.

The Saints would get one closer in the second period, and MacDonald came up big with several key saves to keep the home team in the contest. Senior captain Rylee Smith re-directed a pass from Jessica Hon past Harvard goalie Emerance Maschmeyer at 5:37 to get the Saints on the scoreboard trailing 3-1.

Harvard nearly got the goal back while shorthanded, as the Crimson caused a turnover and moved in on a 2-on-0 breakaway with MacDonald. However, the junior netminder came up with a huge save and Dayle Wilkinson hustled to clear the rebound to keep St. Lawrence down just two at 3-1. Rookie Brooke Webster nearly answered, moving through the Crimson defense and forcing Maschmeyer to make her best save of the game to keep the score 3-1 headed to the third.

First-year student Kirsten Padalis would lift St. Lawrence's chances at the 6:00 minute mark, scoring her second goal of the year to make it 3-2. Webster sent a pass just inside the blue line, and Padalis blasted a shot that appeared to go off of a Harvard player and over the shoulder of Maschmeyer to make it a one-goal game at 3-2.

However, St. Lawrence was whistled for four minor penalties in the final 13:26 of regulation, thwarting the team's comeback efforts. Though the Saints had a power play in the final minutes, a hooking penalty against Wilkinson with 1:49 to play would force the Scarlet and Brown to finish the game shorthanded, realistically ending their upset bid. MacDonald did get off the ice for the extra attacker with about 1:00 minute remaining, but Maschmeyer was able to keep the puck in front of her with the two teams skating 5-on-5.

Maschmeyer closed with 26 saves in the game, including 10 in the third period when her squad was outshot 11-4. MacDonald made 17 saves in the loss. Harvard, which leads the country in both power play and penalty kill, was 0-for-5 with the extra attacker while St. Lawrence was 0-for-6.

The Saints would look to rebound tomorrow, Saturday, November 9 when they host Dartmouth College at 4:00pm. Meanwhile, the No. 8 Crimson will head to Potsdam, NY to face nationally-ranked Clarkson.