While Omosegbon’s red card may have put Brown in control of the game, it also raised the volume of the 600 fans in attendance—many of whom were Harvard soccer alumni.

“These are all our best friends,” Akpan said of the many graduates at the match. “It’s motivation—you want to do well for them.”

Whether it was the presence of their former teammates or just the knowledge of the importance of the game that drove the Crimson players, they were able to hold on and claim a 1-0 victory that not only turns their season, but also the conference standings.

“That was a big character one,” Harvard coach Jamie Clark said. “You had your special players, [Akpan] and Rogers, becoming workers and showing that they’re willing to do it…that was big for me—for the stars to put in the blue collar work.”

The Crimson effort was exemplified by junior midfielder Alex Chi, whose work rate was a known commodity before the match.

“[Chi’s] engine is unbelievable,” Clark said. “I think he’s everyone’s favorite payer. He plays the way you would love every player always to play.”

—Staff writer Jay M. Cohen can be reached at jaycohen@fas.harvard.edu.