Possession.

They say it's nine-tenths of the law, but it is at least that great a share of soccer as well. The Harvard women's soccer team (3-2, 1-0 Ivy) proved as much in its 2-0 victory over Boston College (4-3-1, 2-1-1 Big East) yesterday afternoon at Ohiri Field. HARVARD  2 B.C.  0

In perhaps its most disciplined effort of the season, the Crimson used crisp, directed passing and a ball-control style to stymie the Eagles and record its second straight shutout of the season. Harvard keepers have not allowed a goal in over 226 minutes of play, since its 1-0 loss to Hartford last week.

The two Harvard goals are a welcome balm for an offense that had been struggling, failing to score in regulation in its 1-0 double-overtime win at Columbia on Saturday, and failing to score at all against Hartford. The two goals, by senior forward Naomi Miller and junior forward Gina Foster, represent the team's largest offensive output since its season-opening win over New Hampshire.

"This was leaps and bounds better than our previous game [against Columbia]," said Miller, who notched the game's opening tally on a header late in the first half. "We really stepped it up a notch."

After several missed opportunities early on--including five corner kicks in the first 30 minutes of play--Miller finally put the Crimson on the board 34:52 into the contest. The play began when Miller was fouled just to the left of the goal box, leading to a free kick by co-captain Emily Stauffer.

Stauffer's kick rebounded wide right off a B.C. back, where it was handled by co-captain Devon Bingham, who promptly booted the ball back into the fray. Senior fullback Jaime Chu gained control of the rock and sent a cross right to left, which Miller read and headed into the back of the net.

"I knew she was crossing it because she did the same thing against Columbia," Miller said. "I saw it coming, and I just made a run for it and dove."

Even early on, a 1-0 advantage appeared enough for a victory, as Harvard's backs rarely allowed the Eagles a shot on goal, particularly in the first half. B.C. took eight shots in the game, most of which came in its frantic second-half effort to get back into the game.

"Our defense is really one of the most consistent things we do," Bingham said. "They settled it down really well, were really composed, worked around the back and looked for the runs down the inside instead of kicking the long way or looking for runs on the outside. They worked really hard. They always do."

Of course, the Crimson was not finished on offense. Harvard's second goal was the end result of an orgy of shots that came within seconds of each other in the game's 60th minute. Stauffer initiated the play as she dribbled solo along the right endline and fired a shot directly at B.C. sophomore goaltender Courtney Schaeffer, who deflected it in front of the goal.

Much to Schaeffer's dismay, not one but two Crimson scoring threats, in the form of Foster and junior midfielder Ashley Berman, were waiting on the weak side to field the rebound. Berman struck first, bouncing a second rocket off the body of the beleaguered Schaeffer.

Foster was next to launch, and she would not be denied. She streaked in left to right and struck the final blow, firing a shot over the head of the helpless keeper to give her team a 2-0 lead.

The Crimson's two-goal advantage survived a late flurry by the Eagles that saw a handful of sliding saves by senior back-up netminder Meredith Bagley. The game's final 15 minutes represented a brief departure from the composure the team showed throughout yesterday's game.

"We're trying to really work on possessing the ball, swinging it around the back, playing it through midfield and playing with two feet instead of just knocking them long," said junior sweeper Jessica Larson.