More accurately, the Crimson had something to disprove--namely the credibility of the national polls that have excluded them, and the false impression left by the team's five-game losing streak to end the regular season.

While the pundits may claim to know who the nation's best teams are, they aren't likely to take into account things like how Harvard senior midfielder Meredith Stewart has more than tripled her point production from a year ago..

Or how Ashley Mattison has played the two best games of her life in Harvard's opening round victories.

Or how co-captain Brooke McCarthy battled back from a torn ACL one year ago to garner All-Ivy recognition this season for the first time in her career.

Or how co-captain Lauren Corkery has emerged from the shadow of the great players who played alongside her during her first three years to become one of the Ivy League's best defenders in her own right.

Quite simply, no one considered how valiantly this team has played this season, even in defeat. If they had, they might not be so surprised by how the Crimson has stubbornly refused to roll over in this postseason.

"Even though we have a lot of talent, the key this year has been heart," Costello said. "Everyone has been putting everything they have into it and leaving it all out on the field. We finally realized the importance of heart."

On Friday the Crimson is slated to face the Goliath of women's soccer, No. 1 Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish has gone unbeaten this season, and not lost a decision since the NCAA championship game last year, when it finished as runner-up to North Carolina.