With the score knotted at 1-1 in the 84thminute, Stauffer controlled the ball at the top ofthe George Mason box and dropped it back to juniormidfielder Julia Blain. Blain sent a cross wide tothe right of the box that initially seemed errant.

It turned out to be nearly perfect as Millershowed on the right side behind her defender. Shecame sliding in as Patriots' goalkeeper JaimePagliarulo charged her, but Miller won the battleand sent the ball rolling by Pagliarulo into anunprotected net.

"It felt a lot better because it wasn't tripleovertime," Miller said. "After they scored, wewere pretty confident that we were going to get itback. We weren't too worried; we were getting ourchances, we just had to put them in."

Things did not look promising for the Crimsonin the first 10 minutes of the match. At 9:01George Mason junior midfielder Jaime Ricker sent across into the box over the outstretched arms ofHarvard junior goalkeeper Anne Browning. Patriots'freshman forward Katy Robertson stood at the farpost and headed the ball past Browning to giveGeorge Mason an early 1-0 lead.

After the Patriots' goal, however, Harvarddominated the rest of the first half. Led byStauffer, Miller, Berman and Blain, the Crimsonrelentlessly attacked the Patriots' net. Blain didan excellent job in relief of co-captain DevonBingham, who was suffering from the flu.

"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.