Despite the mixed feelings of intensity and nostalgia, the common sentiment for Harvard is a desire to win.

“Every year, I have been lucky enough to get to play the best sport in the world with twenty of my best friends almost every day of the week,” McAuliffe said. “This team has been part of my family for the past four years and I am so sad to have to end my career here. But I’d love to end it on top.”

The Crimson wants to avenge its earlier loss to Princeton, in particular.

In Sunday’s contest against the Tigers, Pell will square off against one of her long-time friends from back home, the Tigers’ senior forward Lisa Rasmussen, in their last regular season game.

“Although I would much rather have her on my side, I am glad our last college game is against each other,” Rasmussen said.

“I’m excited—I want to end it on a good note, but I’m not getting very emotional yet,” Pell said. “It’s a new chapter, and we have a long way to go. The biggest part is ahead of us.”

But before Harvard embarks on that part of the journey it must focus on its games against Yale and Princeton.

—Staff writer John R. Hein can be reached at hein@fas.harvard.edu.