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Kelly Finishes to Lift M. Soccer of UMass 1-0

Despite gusting winds and a bright sun, both Harvard and UMass managed to sleep their way through the first half of the Crimson's 1-0 win yesterday at Ohiri Field.

Although Harvard heard its alarm clock at halftime and promptly stirred to action, the Minutemen hit the snooze button and didn't wake up until the game was nearly over.

And by that time, Ryan Kelly had become their worst nightmare.

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The captain's diving header off of a low cross from fellow senior Matt Edwards in the 76th minute was the only score Harvard (5-3-1, 0-2 Ivy) needed to topple the Minutemen (7-4-2, 3-0-1 Atlantic 10).

"Midweek games have always been tough to get up for," said Crimson junior goalkeeper Dan Mejias. "We started out really slowly."

Fortunately for Harvard, UMass had the same problem, and the consequences were apparent early. The usually chatty pitch was eerily silent, and neither team was able to communicate effectively.

When three Harvard defenders failed to step up and call for a cross floating in the box in the 12th minute, the ball landed at the feet of UMass midfielder Derek Rhodes, who ripped a shot wide.

Just minutes later at the other end of the field, Minuteman defender Shawn Green conceded a corner kick to the Crimson when he knocked the ball out of his own goalkeeper Bryan O'Quinn's hands and over the endline.

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