The loss certainly was a missed opportunity for Harvard, as Penn State was vulnerable with Olympic alternate Christie Welch out with a foot injury and No. 2 scorer Heidi Drummond unable to play after a violent collision with Gunther in the game's opening minute.

That collision was part of a ugly start to the game, in which sophomore midfielder Orly Ripmaster also went down in a collision. She would return three minutes later, however.

While Harvard's chance to win national prominence went by the wayside this weekend, the Crimson will get another to chance to prove itself against a Top-10 team when it takes on No. 9 Hartford in a make-up game on Halloween.

Harvard 2, Princeton 0

Friday night's showdown at Princeton was the epitome of high stakes Ivy League soccer. The high level of intensity was obvious as the two teams battled with their respective championship hopes on the line.

"This is the best kind of rivalry," Wheaton said. "[The Tigers] are such a good team and they get better and better every year. There's lot's of respect on both sides, and hard, fair play--just good soccer. That was a great soccer game to watch."

The lights, the hostile crowd and the soggy field conditions created a atmosphere full of tenacity, which only ripened in the first thirty minutes as each team had its share of hard strikes, blocked shots and violent fouls.

Amidst the early chaos, Harvard began to take charge of the game. The Crimson's defensive pressure forced the Tigers into making bad passes, and Harvard maintained control of the ball at length whenever it took possession.