"The player that made the difference today wasJulia Blain," Wheaton said. "Devon Bingham issick, tries to go, can't; Julia Blain steps in anddominates. She did an amazing job."
Harvard may have played its best soccer of theseason in the first half, but had no goals to showfor it at halftime. Still, the Crimson had chancesto spare.
In the game's 16th minute, Miller led Bermanwith a beautiful ball into the box where Bermanwas apparently tripped before she could get a shotoff. No foul was called.
In the 32nd minute, Berman's corner kick cameinto the box, where it was headed by two differentplayers and came to Stauffer on the far post.Stauffer blasted a shot by Pagliarulo that struckthe left post. The rebound came to Berman whofired wide left.
Stauffer may have missed once, but she wouldnot be denied again. In the 68th minute, Stewartsent a corner kick to the far post where Stauffercontrolled it, spun and lofted a shot across thebox that traveled over the lunging Pagliarulo andhugged the top of the net for the equalizer.
"We had a talk with the team about stepping upand getting it done," Wheaton said. "[Stauffer] isjust getting into it. You sit out a year, and it'shard. I think the more games she has, the more shegets into her flow."
"I think today was the Emily of old," Wheatoncontinued. "She was all over the place, feedingpeople and making things happen."
One minute after Stauffer's score, juniorsweeper Jessica Larson engaged in a series ofplays that saved the game for Harvard. With GeorgeMason desperately pressing, Robertson broke freebehind the Crimson's defense for a clear shot.Larson raced back and made a beautiful tackle inthe box to strip Robertson of the ball and thwarther chance.
Three and a half minutes later, Larson outdidherself. Patriots' freshman Page Henry rushed infrom the left and sent a soft, rolling shot towardthe net that beat Browning. Larson raced back andmade an incredible sliding save, kicking the ballwide just before it crossed the goal line.
Larson was so excited about her play that shejumped into Browning's arms and the two hugged incelebration. The ball, however, was still in play.
"Anne and I were so overjoyed, and the ball wasstill in play; I was like, `Oh...'" Larson said."We've been working hard on taking care of bothsides of the scoreboard. We take a lot of pride inprotecting our goal, and we'll do anything to savea goal."
Larson was not the only defender prone toheroics. Browning, who had the orbital bone of herleft eye shattered in last year's George Masoncontest on a questionable play by a Patriots'player, exacted her revenge late in yesterday'scontest.
In the 76th minute, George Mason senior forwardShannon Timberlake dribbled through threedefenders and fired a shot on goal that Browningknocked away. One minute later Jennifer Jones camefree on another breakaway, and Browning madeanother brilliant save.
Larson and Browning's dauntless play set thestage for Miller's game winner.
"I don't like [George Mason] all that much; wehave some issues," Browning said. "I'm just happythat I could come up as big as my defensiveplayers. Jessie backs me up, and I'll back her up,on pretty much anything."
George Mason and Cornell both finished with 1-1records in the tournament, but the Patriots tooksecond place by virtue of their 2-0 victory overthe Big Red on Friday. Cornell defeatedNortheastern 5-2 in yesterday's early game tocapture third place and leave the Huskies infourth with an 0-2 tournament mark.
ScoringHar--Miller (Stauffer, Berman) 17:15.Har--Zotter (Miller) 22:00.Har--Stauffer (Ghani) 25:24.Har--Berman (unassisted) 57:20.Har--Stewart (unassisted) 81:29. ScoringGM--Robertson (Ricker, Timberlake) 9:01.Har--Stauffer (Stewart) 67:30.Har--Miller (Blain, Stauffer) 83:43.