The Harvard women's soccer team stunned ninth-ranked Massachusetts with a thrilling 1-0 victory at Ohiri Field yesterday.

Senior midfielder Skyler Vinton scored her first goal of the season to lead the Crimson to its improbable win.

The win raises the Crimson's record to 5-3-1 (2-1-0 Ivy), while the Minutewomen fall to 8-3-0.

Harvard was the heavy underdog in this contest, but the team was unfazed by the challenge.

"In past games, we've given our opponent too much respect. That didn't happen here," Crimson Coach Tim Wheaton said.

The Massachusetts defense, which had only given up four goals in 10 games, was unprepared for the early ferocity of the Crimson attack.

The Harvard offense, led by Co-Captain Robin Johnston, Laurie Uustal and Jen Minkus, penetrated the Minutewomen's vaunted defense with relative ease, but they were unable to generate good scoring chances.

Midway through the first half, Massachusetts tightened its game and began to apply pressure to the Crimson defense.

The Minutewomen owned the skies, winning virtually every header, and prevented the Crimson defense from clearing the ball.

But Harvard held firm. Co-Captain Amy Weinstein, sweeper Erin Matias, Vinton and sophomore Meg Berte repulsed every attack.

"Our defense was really strong today," Wheaton said.

Several times during the half, the Crimson offense was able to relieve the crushing pressure of the Massachusetts offense. Breakaways by Minkus, Johnston, and junior Kristy Gaschler kept the Minutewomen's defense from fully committing to the attack.

With six minutes left in the half, the Crimson made one of these breakaways count.

Uustal took possession of the ball at midfield and fought through four defenders before passing to Johnston. Johnston deferred the shot to Vinton, who flicked a high, slow, arcing shot into the upper left corner of the net to notch her first goal of the season.

The story of the second half was Crimson goalie Brooke Donahoe and the Crimson defense, as they fought off a seemingly endless wave of attacks by the desperate Massachusetts' offense.