UConn deserves some credit. The Huskies clogged the middle of the field effectively, preventing the Crimson from making good passes or strong runs. And most of the breaks went UConn's way as well.

In the 11th minute of play, Stauffer fired a shot on goal that sailed over the crossbar by inches. Five minutes later, another rocket off Stauffer's boot hit the crossbar and rebounded to Miller, whose chip over UConn goalkeeper Anne-Elisabeth Eskerud also struck the crossbar. That's pretty bad luck.

On the other end of the field, UConn's first tally nearly defined good fortune. The Huskies' Margaret Tietjen--twin sister of ejected Jennifer--avenged her sister's plight in the 28th minute when her cross from the endline sailed over the Harvard crossbar and miraculously struck the side of the net inside the far post.

One sister accidentally scores less than five minutes after the other was ejected. Eerie. The Fates must have been against the Crimson.

If Harvard's players can take some comfort from the loss, it is that they were not overmatched--they contributed to their own demise. When the Crimson played in the manner it is capable of and usually does, it dictated the course of the game--a game against the No. 3 team in the nation.

As Harvard junior forward Beth Zotter put it: "We're all happy that we're mad that we lost."

What Harvard needs to do is continue to play ball-control soccer and start its run from its defense. When the Crimson does that for a full 90 minutes, it is able to create better spacing for the attack to make well-executed plays.

The truth is that the Huskies did nothing to prevent the Crimson from playing as it did against George Mason, Northeastern, Cornell or any other opponent--Harvard actually outshot UConn, 21-11.

If nothing else, the Crimson proved that it can hang with any team in the country.

The question is: How does Harvard achieve its goal of consistently playing its disciplined style and avoid lapses? I don't have the answer.

Harvard needs to figure that out on its own.