A little over one week ago, all the Harvard women's soccer team wanted in the whole world was to be recognized as one of the top 48 teams in the nation.

These days, that description might appear as a bit of an understatement.

Since receiving its invitation to the Big Dance on Nov. 5, the Crimson has proceeded to waltz its way into the Sweet Sixteen. In the process, Harvard has outlasted nine teams that were ranked ahead of it going into the tournament.

As a matter of fact, the Crimson is the only team still alive in the tournament that was unranked in the National Top-25 at the start of the first round.

So much for the polls.

With all the Crimson's postseason success so far, it seems almost silly to think that Harvard might ever have been excluded from the tournament. But that was the thinking not too long ago.

"I really think it was a gift from God that we got in," freshman midfielder Katie Westfall said. "I definitely thought we were one of the top 48 teams, but with our record, I wasn't expecting it."

Fortunately for Harvard, the committee was able to overlook a couple fluky losses and appreciate the Crimson's potential to turn some heads against the nation's best teams.