NEW YORK--If the Rolling Stones had seen the Harvard women's soccer game against Columbia on Saturday afternoon, they probably would have said that time was on the Crimson's side.
The duration of the double-overtime match allowed Harvard (2-2, 1-0 Ivy) to outlast a fatigued Columbia (1-1-1, 0-1) and escape New York with a 1-0 victory at Columbia Soccer Stadium in the Crimson's Ivy League opener. Harvard is now 13-0-1 all-time versus Columbia. HARVARD1 COLUMBIA 0
"In the league you just want to get your points; you want to get the win," Harvard Coach Tim Wheaton said. "Certainly, we'd like to win more comfortably--I have enough gray hair, thank you very much--but the end result is what matters."
Two timely plays by a pair of Harvard veterans also saved and sealed the win for the Crimson. Junior forward Beth Zotter was in the right place at the right time to score the game-winning goal in the game's 110th minute, 4:30 into the second sudden death overtime period. But Zotter may never have found herself in that position if not for an outstanding defensive play by senior back Ashley Marynick late in the second half of regulation.
A Harvard team that had played tentatively over the first 90 minutes dominated the action in overtime. Placing relentless pressure on the Lions' defense, the Crimson finally broke through for a frustratingly elusive goal early in the second extra session.
Junior forward Gina Foster penetrated Columbia's defense and sent a pass to senior forward Naomi Miller on the right flank. Miller fired a shot on goal that was deflected by Columbia goalkeeper Ali Ahern.
Ahern could not control the ball and the rebound made its way to the left side of the box where Zotter was waiting to become a hero. With Ahern out of position, Zotter nonchalantly redirected the ball toward the goal and rolled it into the net to end the game. Miller and Foster were credited with assists.
"Naomi takes the shot, keeper saves it, rebound, Beth Zotter is there to clean it up," said junior midfielder Ashley Berman. "That's her job, we go home, we win. Go Harvard."
Zotter sent the Harvard fans home cheering, but Marynick left them gasping. Marynick turned in what was undoubtedly the play of the game with 20 minutes remaining in the second half and saved Harvard's Ivy League debut from disaster.
The play was set up when Columbia forward Kriszen Williams broke in behind Harvard's defenders. Harvard senior goalkeeper Jennifer Burney charged Williams to cut off her shooting angle.
Williams managed to loft a shot over the diving Burney that floated toward the goal. The crowd had already begun cheering the certain score when Marynick, racing toward her own net, leapt and headed the ball away just before it crossed the goal line. Marynick ended up tangled in the netting of the goal.
"That's probably the one thing we've been stressing the whole season--[junior sweeper] Jes [Larson] is supposed to go up when a player gets through, so we're supposed to get in behind her," Marynick said. "It's something that's been ground into us because that's one place we don't want to get burned. I was happy I saved it."
Harvard had no intention of allowing the game to reach overtime, but neither did it take the necessary steps to avoid sudden death. The Crimson was clearly the more talented team, but it allowed Columbia to direct the tone for much of the match. Harvard was unable to control the ball effectively or play in its typical style, characterized by composure and crisp passing.
"We didn't turn the game around to "I think a lot of us had tired legs, but that'snot an excuse," Zotter added. "We weren't planningto come out and battle and use our muscle to win,we were going to use our skill. That's what youneed to use when you have tired legs." Still the Crimson did have several good scoringopportunities, including a few where they forcedAhern terribly out of position. Just two minutesinto the game, Berman came free on the left sideand rocketed a shot that hit the crossbar. Midwaythrough the first half, co-captain Emily Stauffermade a gorgeous pass to Miller, who fired a shotbut right at Ahern. Late in the first half, Foster actually beatAhern but was tackled before she could get off aclean shot. Foster got another chance late in thesecond period when she raced past Ahern again, butshe had her shot blocked by a Columbia defenderwho threw her body into the line of fire. Therebound came to Zotter, who dumped the ball backto Foster, but another Foster shot and asubsequent attempt by Stauffer were both stopped. "Our goal was to not let it get this far intothe game," Zotter said. "We wanted to come out andscore fast, and take charge of the game and makeit not even a question." Late in the second half it appeared thatovertime would be unnecessary. Miller broke inbehind the Columbia defense and ripped a shot pasta diving Ahern into the lower left corner of thegoal for an apparent 1-0 Harvard lead. But thelinesman lofted the flag above his head indicatingMiller was offside, and the goal was nullified. "I think we were concentrating too much onelaborate tactics," Miller said. "Before you cando your runs, you have to have the ball. But wewere getting ready to make all the runs and notfocusing on getting the ball first. We jumped tostep two and skipped step one." The Crimson's defense also turned in a solidperformance, led by Marynick's excellentall-around game. Larson kept the area in front ofBurney clean for most of the afternoon as well. When Columbia did get shots on goal, however,Burney was up to the task. The senior madenumerous crucial plays, including a charging saveon a shot from the foot of Columbia's Tosh Fordein the game's 54th minute that sent Forde limpingto the sideline. "We've changed the starting lineup every game,so we're still trying to get the foundation wewant," Marynick said. Overtime belonged to Harvard. The Lions wereapparently unable to keep up with the Crimson'sattack, as Foster, Berman, co-captain DevonBingham and the rest of the Harvard offensecreated opportunity after opportunity. Harvardoutshot Columbia 27-8 for the game, led byMiller's seven shots and Stauffer's six. "I think we kind of decided enough is enough,"Wheaton said. "One of the things that happens whenyou have a team that has the talent that this teamdoes, you think, 'Oh, it will just come,' and itdoesn't just come, you have to make it come. Theyjust decided to win it, and they did." Despite the victory, the players know they arenot yet playing their best. "We're really excited to go back [today] andpractice because we have some things to work out,"Stauffer said. "We're just looking to improveduring the whole season, and right now we feelthat our game isn't quite gelling." The game may not have gone as smoothly asplanned, but the final result was the one theCrimson wanted. Harvard has taken the first stepin its quest for a fourth consecutive Ivy Leaguetitle. "Like coach just said, 'It was ugly, but it'sbetter to win ugly than to lose.' The win's great;we're always happy with a win," Miller said. "Ofcourse it could have been prettier, but we'lldefinitely take a win over a loss or a tie anyday." ScoringHar--Zotter (Miller, Foster) 102:30.Saves:Har--Burney 3; Col--Ahern 6.
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