Tough to Finish

Saturday’s game was filled with an alarming number of near misses, hit posts and last-second defensive saves, especially for the Crimson.

“It definitely should have been more than 2-0,” Chandis said. “It should have been more like 5-0 or 6-0.”

Perhaps the most obvious opportunities were Ara’s headers off the crossbar. Twice during the first half a Nechtem corner kick found its way to Ara’s head, but both times the ball slammed off the crossbar and sailed harmlessly out of the penalty area.

“[Nechtem] usually hits a good cross and I got away from my man,” Ara said. “I guess I was just real unlucky, hitting the same spot on the pole twice. I wish it would have gone in.”

Altchek was also left thinking about the almosts. In the opening minutes Altchek found himself at a bad angle on the right side of the goal with the Princeton goalie out of position. But his attempt was cleared off the line.

“We’ve been pretty unlucky all year,” Chandis said. “But we have to get over it and make our own luck.”

Though the Crimson, which has averaged thirteen shots a game this year, seems to be creating its own opportunities, it has had trouble finishing.

At no time was this more evident than against Cornell on Oct. 11, when Harvard took 30 shots and forced the Big Red’s goalie to make 11 saves. The Crimson ended up leaving Ithaca with only a frustrating 1-1 tie.

Princeton also had its fair share of missed opportunities. Midway through the first half, Craig cleared a ball that was inches from crossing the goal line.

Just thirteen minutes later, the Tigers saw one of their shots hit the post.

—Staff writer Evan Johnson can be reached at erjohns@fas.harvard.edu.