The game was certainly winnable, but only if someone could score at least once. That was easier said than done-the Crimson had mustered just two goals in its last five games.

This time, the hero would be the unlikeliest one yet.

Less than a week after she broke her hand against Columbia, senior forward Ashley Mattison netted both of Harvard's goals-her first two scores of the season-to lift the Crimson over the Braves.

It was an uplifting victory for a squad that had not won a game in almost three weeks. After Quinnipiac, though, the Crimson's draw got a lot tougher. Its second round opponent-Hartford-had already defeated Harvard 2-1 during the regular season. Still, the Crimson had played the Hawks closely enough in that earlier meeting that it was confident about its chances.

Plus, the Crimson had Mattison. The senior's incredible scoring binge continued against the Hawks, as she sacrificed her body to head a loose ball past the Hartford keeper for a first-half strike. The goal proved to be the game-winner as Harvard stomped to a 3-0 upset victory and earned the right to face the No. 1 team in the land-Notre Dame-in the Sweet Sixteen.

To say the least, the Crimson faced an uphill battle against the top-ranked team in the country. Still, on a bitterly cold night in South Bend, Ind., Harvard battled Notre Dame valiantly, denying the Irish any goals in the run of play. If not for two goals on corner kicks, the game might very well have gone scoreless through the end of regulation.

As it was, however, the Crimson had trouble mustering any significant threat on offense and fell 2-0. The end had finally come to Harvard's improbably run.