“Offensively, it was tough,” Peterson said. “I think we could have had the same problems we had all season. Our offense was just a little stagnant.”

And while the even-strength offensive attack was unproductive, little was accomplished during kickout situations, either.

“We didn’t capitalize on and of our six-on-fives,” Peterson said. “In big games, you have to score on your man up opportunities.”

As the clock wound down, the Crimson attempted to counterattack quickly by sending defenders up the pool as soon as a shot was released in the hopes that they might catch the Tigers’ defense unprepared.

But Princeton defenders hung back and the gambles allowed the Tigers to tack on extra tallies, blowing the game open and sending Harvard to the consolation bracket.

“If they win, they win, so we had to try to create offensive opportunities and to try to push goals,” Codini said. “Sometimes it works in your favor and sometimes it doesn’t.”

Harvard 9, George Washington 7

Eliminated from championship consideration, the Crimson set out to exact a measure of revenge on the Colonials (18-13), who had defeated Harvard in the season’s early going.

Against George Washington on Saturday, the Crimson immediately corrected a problem that had befuddled it against Princeton—scoring with a man-advantage.

In a back-and-forth contest in which neither side was able to establish a clear lead until the final stretch, Harvard led most of the way, but the Colonials stayed within one throughout.

Each squad clamped down on fast break opportunities, resulting in a slow, drawn out pace in which goals from set offenses were at a premium.

With the clock ticking down, Peterson notched her second game-winner of the tournament, scoring from the right side to seize the lead for good.

“I think in some ways when its your final tournament you play with a more relaxed attitude, leave nothing to be desired, nothing left on the court, you give it your all and have fun,” Peterson said. “I was trying to have a good time and do well at the same time. I didn’t put too much pressure on myself.”

With the tension mounting as George Washington frantically sought the equalizer, the Harvard defense held fast.

After Keyser drew a penalty shot off a foul in the middle of the pool outside the goal mouth, Codini found the back of the net to seal the victory and a place in the fifth-place game.