Anchoring the defense is sophomore goalkeeper Cheryl Gunther. After battling early season injury, she has returned to the form that earned her the 1999 Ivy League Rookie of the Year.

Senior defender Brooke McCarthy has also been instrumental in the Crimson's success. At the Harvard Invitational in early October, her tenacious play earned her the MVP award.

Joey Yenne has emerged as the most dangerous offensive threat, notching all three goals in a 3-1 victory over Yale last Saturday. What makes the Crimson so dangerous, however, is that goals can come from all directions--in a 7-0 win over Davidson on Oct. 9, seven different Harvard players found the back of the net.

As both teams prepare for the match, however, there is more than just local bragging rights on the line.

For B.U., a win over Harvard would be a major step towards securing an NCAA bid, as the Crimson is currently ranked No. 2 in the Northeast. Because Hartford is the favorite to win the America East and the conference's automatic bid, the Terriers must beat the Crimson to gain respect in the region and have a chance at an at-large bid.

For Harvard, a win translates into much-needed momentum for this weekend's trip to Princeton and Penn State. The match with Princeton could ultimately determine this year's Ivy League champion, while Sunday's match with No. 6 Penn State will have major national implications.

But for now, the Crimson knows the importance of focusing on the task at hand.