Despite controlling the tempo and momentum throughout its second round NCAA Tournament match versus Boston College yesterday afternoon, the No. 7 Harvard women's soccer team was unable to break through and it watched its amazing season come to a disappointing end with a 1-0 loss at Ohiri Field.

Even with an overwhelming advantage in shots on goal of 23-11, the Crimson (14-2-1, 7-0 Ivy) was unable to overcome a late first half score by Eagle senior forward Mary Guarino and made an improbable exit from the postseason tournament as the No. 8 seed in a field of 48.

The loss marked the end of the college careers of Crimson seniors Julia Blain, Ashley Berman, Jessica Larson, Gina Foster, and Beth Zotter.

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Although this group has formed the core of the women's soccer team for the past 4 years, they were never able to reach farther than the quarterfinals of the NCAA since a sophomore year loss to eventual champion North Carolina 1-0 in 1997.

However, this year's team was just the third Ivy League squad to ever amass a 7-0 mark in the women's soccer division since its inception in 1991. It owned the nation's third-longest unbeaten string this year at 13 games, and was one of the stingiest defensive teams in the country, allowing a national-low eight goals during the regular season.

Harvard Coach Tim Wheaton and his returning squad for next year have a lot to look forward to as they will continue to gel, but they will sorely miss the senior leadership that has carried them throughout the year.

"[This game] was an unfortunate way to end one of the best seasons this program has ever had," Wheaton said.

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