Box Score

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – In fitting form, No. 8 Northeastern handled cross-town rival Harvard on the stick of Crystal Poland, who notched two scores in the Huskies' 4-1 victory Wednesday night. The second of her two goals, however, was one for the history books. At 15:29, Hannah Hoelscher inserted a penalty corner, which was stopped and set up by Nicky Graham at the top of the circle. With a drag flick – so apt a shot for Poland – the senior from Crofton, British Columbia, moved into sole possession of first place all-time in Northeastern program history with her 68th career goal.

That score put the Huskies (9-2, 2-1 CAA) up on the Crimson, 3-0, with just a quarter of the game in the books. But the momentum started well before then, when, at 4:49, Poland sliced in the first score of the game, giving the Huskies momentum they would never relinquish. At 12:31, sophomore Kelly Dunn extended Northeastern's lead to 2-0 with her alertness in front of the cage. Dunn made a heads-up play, scooping up the ball in the circle after Hannah Hoelscher's fiery shot narrowly deflected off of Harvard's Cynthia Tassopoulos. The goal was Dunn's second of the season and the second of her career.

After Poland had directed her course in NU history with the evening's third goal, sophomore Kate Carlson widened the gap between the Huskies and Crimson with an impressive unassisted score from the left side of the cage. The goal, her second of the season, gave the Huskies four for the half, the largest lead at the break the squad has had all year.

The second half was a different tale for the Northeastern offense, but the Husky defense, and especially senior netminder Lizzie Priest, shined enough to preserve the victory. Priest, who averaged two saves in each of the last three contests, earned six stops in the second half alone, to accompany the three she had in the first stanza. The defensive unit came to Priest's aid throughout the game as well, including senior co-captain Christine Tase who recorded her second defensive save of the year, blocking a crucial shot in the circle.

But at 64:02, Harvard broke its scoring drought after Kim Goh connected on a penalty stroke, making things 4-1 with little time remaining. Not deterred, Northeastern played keep-away for the final five-plus minutes to finish off the Crimson by that same 4-1 margin for its ninth win of the season.

Next on the table for the Huskies is a trip to Newark, Del., for a meeting with UD's Blue Hens in a crucial conference match-up.