When the Harvard women’s ice hockey team faced off against Colgate on Saturday, it began a new season as a young team that has high hopes for the new year. Coming off a 23-10-0 record in the 2000-2001 season, the Crimson earned a No. 4 preseason ranking in the ECAC Northern Division.

The key to Harvard’s success this year will be its ability to generate a cohesive unit with such a young roster. The Crimson is relying on its more experienced players to guide the seven new members of the squad in the new season.

“We’ve tried to reiterate in meetings that it’s not about just one person trying to spread the good word, it’s about everyone sort of helping these new kids along, showing them what the traditions of this program are all about,” said Harvard Coach Katey Stone.

Facing major losses in the starting line-up, Harvard is hoping its rookies will step up to help bring the team back to the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four.

“[The freshmen] have made a good combination with our veterans,” Stone said. “Everyone is gelling pretty well together. We’re going to continue the Harvard tradition of outworking people.”

One challenge that the team is facing is replacing the offense it lost with the departure of Jennifer Botterill (42-36—78) and Tammy Shewchuk (29-46—75), two of the top three scorers in the nation last year.

Shewchuk led the nation in assists and finished her collegiate career as the most prolific scorer in Harvard history.

Botterill was awarded the 2001 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the most outstanding female collegiate hockey player in the U.S. She led the nation in points with 78 and game-winning goals with seven.

The lone remaining forward from last year’s regular first line is junior Kalen Ingram, who had 21 goals and 25 assists and scored the game-winning goals in the final three victories of the season.

Ingram’s two years of experience will be key in providing veteran leadership for the new recruits.

“We have a lot of good goal scorers coming up in the freshman class,” Ingram said. “People from last year who might not have gotten a lot of ice time are going to get huge chances to play this year.”

Returning with Ingram on the offensive line is junior Tracy Catlin, who recorded ten goals, including two game-winners, and six assists last season. The players from last year’s third line—senior Vanessa Bazzocchi, sophomore Lauren McAuliffe and sophomore Mina Pell—will likely see increased playing time.

“We’re just trying different combinations, putting people in every position and seeing how they play together,” Stone said.

Walk-on freshman defender Emily Haige has been seeing practice time at the forward position along with fellow rookies Nicole Corriero, Sarah Holbrook, Katherine Sweet and Ali Crum.

“It’s hard to tell what’s going to happen now,” Ingram said. “The work ethic is there; everyone’s hustling, that’s all you really need to get the ball rolling.”