Harvard's Yardling soccer team scrapped with the University of Connecticut freshmen for two quarters then pulled together for five second-half goals and a 7-0 victory Saturday afternoon in Stoors, Connecticut.
The Huskies apparently felt that the only way to defeat the Crimson was to disrupt its offensive pattern. This strategy led to an unusually rough match, but the Yardlings finesse prevailed.
Connecticut pushed and shoved the Harvard attackers sufficiently in the first half to hold the Crimson to two goals. After halftime, the determined Yardlings controlled play completely.
Center forward Chris Papagianis tallied in each of the first two periods for Harvard. Alejandro Martinez and Henry Sideropoulos each chalked up two second-half goals, and Mossavar-Rahmani rounded out the scoring for Harvard.
Third Shutout
Goalkeeper Peter Aschaffenburg turned in his best performance of the year, recording his third shutout in seven games. "Peter played very well. He didn't misplay one ball," freshman coach Dana Getchell said after the game. Aschaffenburg has now held opponents scoreless in 19 periods.
Papagianis, still not scoring at his phenomenal early-season pace, tallied first on an assist from Pauli Jarvenpaa late in the first quarter. Papagianis scored again 14 minutes into the second period when he took a lead pass from Emmanuel Ekama and knocked in a ten-yard score.
Martinez set off the Crimson scoring barrage after intermission when he drifted in from his wing position and shot past the Huskie goalie four and a half minutes into the third quarter. Papagianis got the assist.
Sideropoulos Scores Twice
Sideropoulos took over at this point and scored twice within two minutes toward the end of the third stanza. The first goal came when Sideropoulos took a cross from wing Demitrio Mena and sent the ball far into the corner of the Connecticut goal. He then converted a penalty kick with a minute and a half left in the third period.
Mossavar-Rahmani scored an unassisted goal two minutes into the last quarter when after a short sprint, he faked and left the Huskie goalie flat-footed as the ball flew into the net.
Martinez tallied his second goal three minutes later when he took advantage of an assist from Patrick Tchou and scored on a hard ten-yard shot.
Ekama and fullback Rick Scott took the worst beating from the eager Huskies, but both should be ready for the Yardlings 10:30 a.m match with Princeton Saturday on the Business School field.
Right wing Bobby Auritt was elected the team's permanent captain last Thursday, but he did not make the trip to Connecticut because of an academic conflict.
Read more in News
The Fainsod Report