If the Harvard women’s soccer team upsets perennial national powerhouse Stanford today, it will be for two reasons: depth, and width.

That is to say, the Crimson will have relied on its depth to add width to its defense. This season, Harvard (1-1) has replaced the three defenders and five midfielders it has used in years past with three midfielders—all of whom play centrally—and four backs.

Ideally, the new formation will spur a Crimson offense that must replace its two starting strikers—and leading goal-scorers—from last year.

But it may not be Harvard’s extra forward that makes the most difference in its attack. Instead, having an additional player in the back frees several key players to attack situationally as the play develops. As a result, the Crimson’s opponents will never know which Harvard players will attack—or where they will come from—on any given play.

Two likely candidates are central midfielders senior Katie Westfall and sophomore Maile Tavepholjalern. Westfall, a third-team All-American as a sophomore, tied for second on the team with five goals and first in the Ivy League with nine assists last season. Harvard coach Tim Wheaton sees some similarities in Tavepholjalern.

“They’re both very creative and have great vision of the game,” Wheaton said. “The system is set up to allow them to really commit themselves to the attack.”

“Those two are freed up to go forward and take people on without thinking about, ‘Oh, I need to get back and have this defensive responsibility,’” added co-captain Katie Hodel, who is also a Crimson editor.

In other situations, co-captain left back Caitlin Fisher—a two-time first-team All-Ivy selection who was fourth in the conference in assists last year—could be the player spearheading the Crimson break.

“This is a chance definitely for her to have that space along the wings to get forward, make some runs and get some crosses in,” Hodel said.

Of course, the attack could also come from the other side, led by senior Lauren Cozzolino or freshman Laura Odorczyk out of the right back slot.

“With the athletic ability that we have on the wing backs, no matter who’s playing there ... the three central midfielders playing with four in the back allows [them] to go forward without as much hesitation,” Hodel said.

Or Hodel herself could attack out of her defensive role. Or junior center back Liza Barber could creep up to finish one of her trademark headers. Or it could be any number of other players.

And that’s the key to the system—and what allowed Wheaton to implement it in the first place: Harvard’s depth.

“One of our real strengths this year is we have more starting-quality players in a number of positions than we have starting positions,” Wheaton said.

That’s especially true in the back, where the Crimson has already had six different players—Fisher, Barber, Hodel, junior Falyne Chave, Cozzolino and Odorczyk—start a game.