CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A new era in the storied history of Harvard women’s ice hockey began in 2023-24 as Laura Bellamy, the new Landry Family Head Coach for Harvard Women’s Ice Hockey took over at the helm of the program. Under her guidance, a number of young players progressed this season to set the team up for success in the years to come.
Bellamy and new staff members Meredith Roth and Venla Hovi, Harvard set out to establish a new culture and identity that was on display during the team’s progression during 2023-24 campaign.
A win over Beanpot rival Boston University and a trip to the Nation’s Capital over Thanksgiving break to compete at the D1 in DC tournament highlighted the first-half opening months of the season for the Crimson.
The win over BU went down as the first win in the young head coaching career of Bellamy a its trip to DC saw Harvard compete in two highly competitive contests with number 4 Minnesota and St. Thomas. The team enjoyed the holiday together by exploring DC and touring the National Monuments.
The team returned to Cambridge and recorded two impressive victories including a thrilling upset victory over No. 8 St. Lawrence that saw Alex Pellicci post a 52-save shutout and Gwyn Lapp score the overtime game winner. Lapp followed up the effort with a two-goal outing to lead the team to a 2-1 victory over Sacred Heart in the team’s first game back from its Winter break.
Harvard then turned its focus towards the Beanpot tournament, where a narrow setback in the opening round gave Harvard the opportunity to become the first women’s college hockey team to play a game on the ice at T.D. Garden in the consolation round. Led by sophomore goaltender Emily Davidson, the Crimson made history by defeating the No. 13 Boston College Eagles in a shootout and becoming the first women’s team to record a win at the T.D. Garden. Davidson made three key saves in the shootout and Gabi Davidson Adams scored the winning goal to help write Harvard’s name into the record book.
Davidson would post two more impressive outings during the team’s wins over RPI and Union. For her efforts, Davidson was voted as the team’s Breakthrough Player of the Year and will look to expand on her success when she returns to guard the net next year.
Another emerging star in the Crimson locker room, Gwyn Lapp, took a huge step forward in the 2023-24 season, setting a new career high with 11 goals and 15 points during her sophomore campaign. Lapp was named the team’s Most Impactful Player and will return to Bright-Landry next season to continue her progression.
Junior defender Jenna MacDonald also received recognition from her peers after she was voted as the John Dooley Award winner, a title given out yearly to the player who best combines sportsmanship, enthusiasm and devotion to hockey,
MacDonald established herself as a leader on the team this season, playing a key role in all situations from the blue line. MacDonald’s most impressive performance came in the win over RPI (Jan. 19) where she blocked eight shots, which is tied for the second-most blocked shots in a game in Harvard women’s ice hockey history.
One of the first players on and last players off the ice, MacDonald led by example in 2023-24. MacDonald helped usher in a new era this season and will look to help the team continue to build on its new foundation when the team takes the ice in the Fall.
One of the youngest team’s in the nation, only two seniors will be leaving the team as Shannon Hollands and Rose O’Connor competed their Crimson hockey careers. The duo was honored on senior night as the team thanked them for their countless contributions to the program.
Harvard women’s ice hockey now turns its focus towards the 2024-25 season where a veteran group will return to the ice to help the Crimson build on its new foundation and chase more success in the future.
