Midfielder Leelee Groome's blast off a corner pass with 26 minutes left in the game sailed just right of the Tiger net.
Forward Linda Runyon's two shots from within five feet of the Princeton goal at 16:23 of the second half were deftly turned back by the Tiger netminder.
And the last serious Crimson threat was quelled when Cindi Ersek's breakaway blast with less than five minutes left smacked off the right side of the net and trickled out of bounds.
Harvard's defense--which had held seventh-ranked New Hampshire to one goal Tuesday--was outmatched by an aggressive Princeton offense which reeled off 20 shots and 15 penalty corners.
"We didn't concentrate well defensively," Crimson Coach Nita Lamborghini said.
Prior to the contest, the biggest question about the young Harvard squad was whether its offense would regain the potency it had displayed in earlier victories over Springfield and Dartmouth.
Harvard seemed to answer the offensive doubters with its first goal.
"We had the momentum," Ersek said.
But the potent Princeton offense soon stole that momentum--and stole the show.
THE NOTEBOOK: Princeton improved its overall record to 8-4-1, the best in the Ivy League...Katsias finished with 12 saves...Groome was issued a green tag for pummeling a Princeton midfielder...Harvard must win all of its five remaining games to avoid finishing with a losing record...Runyon and midfielder Jane Grim played with injuries...The stickwomen have never won an Ivy championship...Harvard's next game--its last home game of the season--is against Boston College Tuesday at Soldiers Field. Scoring: H. Kate Felsen (Bambi Taylor) 5:23; P, Sue Gouchoe (Sue McCarter) 18:23; P. McCarter (Kari Briggs) 57:45 Saves: P. Angela Tucci, 3; H. Denise Katsias, 12