DURHAM, N.H.-Well, the season for the Harvard women's hockey team is over.

The Crimson (14-9-1) fell to Providence, 8-3, in the semifinals of the ECAC tournament here at Snively Arena Saturday. Providence fell to UNH, 5-2, yesterday in the ECAC championship game.

"It really was closer than the score indicated," Co-Captain Martina Albright said after her last game in a Harvard uniform.

It certainly was closer than 8-3 final.

The score was tied, 1-1, after the initial period, and the Friars had a slim one-goal lead going into the second intermission, recording their fourth tally with no time showing on the clock.

"It is deceiving to stay with them that long," sophomore Sandra Whyte said."

The third period featured four Providence goals, while the weary Crimson could not muster another score.

"After they took a two-goal lead, things looked tough," sophomore defender Bev Stickles said. "It almost seemed out of reach because they're such a strong team."

After the Friars knocked in two more in only a nine-second span in the middle of the final period, a win truly was out of reach for the Crimson.

First Blood

Harvard was able to draw first blood, when Whyte scored her 27th goal of the season.

The standout center stripped a Friar defender at center ice, and went in alone against Providence netminder Shannon Sweezey. Whyte beat Sweezey with a crisp wristshot.

"Sandra's goal was very important," Co-Captain Char Joslin said. "It not only put us ahead, it showed that we could play with them."

Providence tied the score when Heather LaDuke tipped in a loose puck in front of the net.

With less than two minutes gone by in thesecond, Friar freshman sensation Cammi Granatounleashed a furious slapshot which Harvard goalieGillian D'Souza was unable to get enough of,putting Providence up, 2-1.