However, it didn't always appear as though the Crimson would need such a daunting pair of improbabilities to make the post-season.
To the contrary, Harvard seemed to be in control of the match and its own destiny throughout most of the game against Princeton.
Then with time on the clock dwindling and the Crimson leading 2-1, everything seemed to fall apart.
Meerschwam, the soon-to-be overtime hero, made a long run up the right side and drew a penalty corner while trying to cut inside.
On the ensuing corner, freshman back Emily Townsend stepped back and leaned into a rocket that somehow found its way through a mass of Harvard defenders and was pegged for the back of the Crimson goal until Cowan made a lunging save.
However, on a play that would eerily foreshadow the overtime winner, the Harvard defense couldn't clear the rebound and freshman midfielder Ilvy Friebe found the back of net to tie the game 2-2 and send it to overtime.
The Harvard defense simply collapsed after Princeton called a timeout with eight minutes remaining in regulation, and the Crimson could never again regain the momentum they possessed early in the match.
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