The first two, against Yale and Penn, were decided by one goal. Then the Crimson surprised many, as it gave Princeton--the sixth-ranked team in the nation--all it could handle in a hotly contested 6-4 loss. But eventual Ivy-champ Dartmouth proved to be far too much for Harvard, as it defeated the Crimson 20-7 in the next game.
"Dartmouth was a talented team, but we did not at all show what kind of team we were," Berkery-Drury said after the loss. "If we had played like we did [against Princeton], we would have beaten [Dartmouth]."
Refusing to allow this rough stretch to bring the team down, however, the Crimson showed much heart in recovering to end the season. Harvard proceeded to defeat Notre Dame, Columbia, New Hampshire and Cornell to end the season red-hot. Unfortunately for the Crimson, the midseason slump proved to be its undoing, as it was denied an invitation to the ECAC tournament.
"I think we knew it could have gone either way, but we were disappointed because we felt we were a much better team at the end of the season," said freshman Alli Harper.
Despite the disappointment of the season, Harvard showed promise down the stretch. Although it will lose its senior tri-captains--MacNaughton, Gudeman, and Rogers--the Crimson returns an impressive team.
Harper had a sensational rookie season at attack, as she netted 30 goals and three assists to tie for the team lead, earning her an All-Ivy Honorable Mention selection. Juniors Clare Parker and Claudia Asano, and sophomores Ashley Birch, Jeanne Ficociello, Kim Weeks and Anne Johnson will also return, adding more punch to the Harvard midfield and attack.
On defense junior Laura Dahmen and sophomores Becca Brown and Genevieve Grandison are a talented, hardworking trio and will be looked upon to lead a strong and experienced group.
Although the past two seasons have ended in disappointment for the team, the return of such a talented, and now experienced, group of players may mean that a return to the glory days of Harvard women's lacrosse is not far away.