Having been away from competition for three weeks due to final exams, the women's ice hockey team returned Saturday to face off against No. 4 Northeastern. The Huskies, one of the best defensive teams in the ECAC, took advantage of Harvard's hiatus by out-skating the Crimson and holding the ECAC's best offense to just one goal.

"We looked a little leg-weary," said Harvard Coach Katey Stone.

In addition to the three-week break, the Crimson also returned to the ice without sophomore Jennifer Botterill. Botterill, the starting right winger and Harvard's third leading scorer, is recovering from a nagging groin injury.

Without Botterill, "we are a little different team," Stone said.

Although Botterill will start skating Monday with the team during practice, Stone does not anticipate her return for the first round of the Beanpot against Boston University on Tuesday.

"She'll be alright after the weekend," Stone said.

The Crimson welcomed back two other starters as junior winger Tammy Shewchuk and sophomore defenseman Angela Ruggiero returned on Saturday morning, only hours before the game, from Toronto.

Shewchuk and Ruggiero were playing for Team Canada and Team USA, respectively, as the two teams faced off during the festivities surrounding this weekend's NHL All-Star game.