The worst incident—which left senior midfielder Jeff Chivers with a broken ankle—came when a Paladin player slammed into Chivers after the whistle was blown.

“[He] took a cheap shot on him on the sideline,” Kerr said. “He came in and chopped him.”

But even when Harvard had the man-up advantage—after a second yellow card was given to Furman’s David Prentice—the Crimson was not able to convert any more opportunities, including eight corner kicks.

“They are a really good team they battled us hard just like they did last year,” Craig said. “It was real physical. A couple of our guys took a hit. It was tough.”

The Paladins were able to come in with 5:26 in the second half and score their goal by sneaking a shot past Johnson into the right corner of the net.

HARVARD 3, COASTAL CAROLINA 0

After two games last year, the team was 0-2 and had given up a total of six goals.

With a 3-0 romp of Coastal Carolina in the opening contest of the Harvard Invitational, the Crimson showed that this year’s defense is no longer a liability.

“We have talented players—when they work together, it’s hard to stop them,” Kerr said.

After a disappointing season-opening 1-0 loss to Vermont, Harvard bounced back with an offensive juggernaut. The Crimson posted 17 shots against the Chanticleers (2-3-0).

Altchek—the only returning starter on the front line—led the way with two goals and a gritty performance, winning a number of jump balls against the Coastal Carolina defenders.

Altchek’s first came late in the first half when he caught a lucky break and converted on the opportunity. In the 43rd minute of play, a deep jump ball skidded off of the head of the Chanticleers’ Bobby Zimmer and to the right of charging goalkeeper Aaron Weant. Altchek burst past the surprised Weant and put the ball into the back of the net for an easy goal.

Harvard’s second goal came in the second half on another attentive play by Altchek. In the 16th minute, Nicholas Tornaritis took the ball just past midfield and dribbled up the middle through three defenders. His pass to the left of the goal hit a streaking Altchek, who banged home the ball for a two-goal lead.

“We finished our opportunities—we had a lot of good work from the forwards,” Craig said.