Harvard scored the first goal of the match, as Stauffer drilled a bullet through the Crusader goalie's hands from six yards out. However, the Crusaders got their first goal shortly later, and the teams would go into the intermission knotted at 1-1.
Junior defender and Ivy League Co-Player of the Week Sara Noonan scored her second goal in as many games when she took junior Susie DeLellis's break-out pass and went in all alone on the Crusader goalie. The goalie had no chance to stop Noonan's shot, and Harvard seized a 2-1 edge.
"Sara Noonan had been playing so well," Simmons said. "She gets up and down the field all the time."
Even though the Crusaders would tie the game at 2-2 shortly after Noonan's score, they never really contended for the go-ahead goal, and Harvard was able to achieve the win.
Brownout?
Now all that remains of the women's soccer regular season is one game--Saturday morning at 11:00 against Brown at Ohiri Field.
The Bears hold a half-game lead over the Crimson, so the winner of the upcoming match will be the Ivy League Champions. Should the teams tie, Brown would also clinch the title.
The winner of the game also holds a good chance of going to the NCAA tournament, which would start the following week. But for now, the only thing on the players' minds is beating Brown.
"After the Dartmouth game [a 2-1 Harvard win last Saturday], I've been so psyched," Bowes said.
The Bears have had a very successful campaign outside the Ivies as well, as they defeated Duke--a top-five team--two weeks ago.
The Crimson will have to keep its cool and not overreact to the physical, foul-filled style that the Bears employ. Actually, the players believe that aggressive style will help Harvard rather than hinder it.
"That will keep up our intensity," Gudeman said.
In any event, the game gives Harvard a chance to do something it hasn't done since 1981--win the Ivies.
"I've never had this big an opportunity," Simmons said. "People are nervous, but I can't ever remember being as excited for a game as I am [for Saturday]."