History was made Saturday afternoon at Columbia's Baker Field.

The occasion, however, was not one that would make the Harvard women's soccer team take home "I Love New York" banners.

A 2-2 tie against an opponent isn't usually a momentous event, but when a perennially-weak team like Columbia earns its first-ever point off of you, then you know something strange had to happen.

The Crimson (0-0-1 overall 0-0-1 Ivy) had numerous chances to win the game, but the Lions (0-1-1, 0-0-1) survived the pressure and were able to improve its 0-8-0 career record against Harvard to 0-8-1.

"We were frustrated," Coach Tim Wheaton said. "We did some good things, but we didn't do enough capitalizing."

Frustrating indeed.

Harvard outshot Columbia 52-5 for the game, including a 30-1 advantage in the second half and the two overtime periods, but it never could break a 2-2 halftime tie.

The majority of the game was spent around the Lions' penalty area, but the Crimson was thwarted either by poor shot selection or the 25 saves of Lion goalkeeper Rachel Barnes.

In fact, Harvard's intense offensive pressure led to Columbia's two goals off counter attacks.

The Lions got on the board first with a goal at the 13:30 Mark when the Crimson defenders failed to communicate with each other on a penalty kick.

Columbia's second goal broke a 1-1 tie when Dana Cassara converted a breakaway past Harvard freshman goalie Dana Krein (2 saves) 34 minutes into the game.

"We were playing defense too casually," freshman Kristen Bowes said. "Their forwards were quick, and we didn't respect their speed enough."

The positive side for the Crimson was its ability to bounce back and the play of its freshmen, four of whom started (Krein, Jessica Henderson, Keren Gudeman and Emily Stauffer), and several other who came in as substitutes.

Harvard's two goals were scored by freshmen--Gudeman beat two Columbia defenders and then deposited the ball in the lions' net at the 27:03 mark to even the game at 1-1.

And Bowes ended the Lions' second lead on the kickoff following Cassara's tally.