And they did, making an incredible surge to a Sweet Sixteen showdown with the top-ranked Fighting Irish.

Harvard began its Cinderella run with a 2-1 win over Quinnipiac. Senior forward Ashley Mattison exploded for two goals in the win.

"A lot of our girls really stepped it up at the end," Corkery said. "When [junior forward Colleen] Moore went down against Hartford, we knew someone would have to get goals. Mattison was huge when it counted."

The Crimson next faced No. 19 Hartford in a rematch of its unlucky 2-1 loss to the Hawks earlier in the year. Harvard rolled to a 3-0 win a got set to take on undefeated Notre Dame.

Harvard was able to play with the Irish, allowing only two goals on set plays from the corner restart.

Despite the 2-0 loss in South Bend, the Crimson viewed its performance against Notre Dame as a success.

"I feel like if you come in and play the No. 1 team in the country in this type of situation, give up two corner kick goals, and no goals in the run of play, that's a pretty good job," Wheaton said.