With its 2-1 loss to No. 13 Hartford on Halloween night, the Harvard women's soccer team has had its worst fears realized: a second straight Ivy League championship is all but an impossibility now, and the team's hopes for a bid into the NCAA Tournament are in doubt as well.

Needless to say, this is not how the Crimson (10-6, 4-2 Ivy) wanted to enter the final weekend of the season.

On the plus side, at least October is over. After starting out the month on a torrid pace by reeling off seven straight wins, the Crimson experienced an utter reversal of fortune, losing its next four games, three by a single goal. In just one week, Harvard has gone from standing a good chance of receiving a first round bye in the postseason tourney to the unenviable position of being on the bubble.

"We've had a rough stretch," junior forward Colleen Moore said. "Right now, we just feel like that's behind us. If we get in [to the tournament], that will be forgotten."

The Crimson's fate will be learned once and for all on Sunday night when the NCAA selection committee releases the field of 48 teams. At that time, half of the available spots will go to league champions, while the remaining 24 will be awarded on an at-large basis.

The team plans to gather at the Crimson Sports Grille to watch the selection show via satellite feed.

But before the seedings are announced, the Crimson will have one last chance to state its case to the committee when the team hosts lowly Columbia at Ohiri Field tomorrow. Game time is 11 a.m.

The Lions (4-10-2, 0-6) have never beaten the Crimson, and tomorrow will definitely not be the time for any firsts. A win in this situation is unquestionably a must, and it would not hurt if it came in convincing fashion.