"O-leee, ole, ole, oleee...Har-vaaard, Harvaaard..."

To anyone who has attended a Harvard women's soccer game, the song is as recognizable as the Memorial Church bells that signal the change of classes in the Yard everyday.

The Crimson's most popular and most frequent cheer--adopted from a popular Brazilian soccer chant--can be heard during matches, echoing from the Harvard bench

But there is so much more to hear.

Harvard's reserves and coaches are an extremely vocal group, far more exciting than their counterparts on any team they have faced this season. And in a sport with as few substitutions as soccer, a supportive and inspirational group on the sidelines can be a definite advantage.

By now most people should know just how talented the Harvard women's soccer team is. Sporting an undefeated conference record and a No. 24 national ranking, the three-time defending Ivy League champs are well on their way to a fourth consecutive League title and yet another berth in the NCAA Tournament.

The Crimson has an All-American, Ivy Players of the Year and an under-20 national-team member. Yes, what this team does on the pitch is impressive and exciting, but equally as entertaining is what they do from the fringes.

It all starts with the march to Ohiri Field for the home games. Harvard will break into its "Ol" chant or into a rendition of a popular '70s song as it marches onto its home turf.

Following the opening whistle, the real fun begins. Aside from the usual yelling and screaming you have in all sports, Harvard's distinctive cheers are the ones that are most enjoyable.

One such cheer, developed by co-captain Emily Stauffer and Kristen Bowes '98, begins with a player repeating the sound of a fire engine siren three times. The rest of the bench then chimes in with, "Fire, fire, fire!"

Another catchy tune--but much harder to convey in writing--is one in which the players simply spell out Harvard or Crimson in a specific rhythm as follows: "C, r, i-m-s, o-n, C-r-i-m. s, o, n-C-r, i-m-s-o-n." It's better if you just hear it.

Also from the Stauffer-Bowes collection--and developed during Harvard hockey games--are any chants sung to the tune of Camptown Races. One example, popular when facing Yale, is: "Blue's the color of mold on cheese, do-da, do-da..."

These cheers are typically led by upperclassmen, but the most vocal member of the group is undoubtedly senior goalkeeper Meredith Bagley. Bagley's voice has become an unmistakable staple of Harvard soccer, and when it comes to pumping up her teammates, few do it better.

Bagley is a two-sport athlete at Harvard and probably one of the best all-around athletes on campus. In the spring you can catch her playing third base for the Ivy League-champion Harvard softball team, flashing the glove that earned her First Team All-Ivy honors last year.

Playing a sport like softball, where musical cheers from the dugout are practically expected, Bagley has learned how to be a vocal leader on and off the field. And when she is not in season, you can catch her in the stands at hockey games supporting her fellow Harvard athletes.