The home team tried to pad its lead with less than 11 minutes to play in the opening frame, as Conigliaro took a give-and-go from junior Melanie Baskind and fired a shot from several yards out. But Conigliaro’s attempt sailed over the cage, and Harvard went into the break clinging to a 1-0 lead.

The Harvard defense had one more scare with 20 minutes to play in the second, when Lion Natalie Melo received a cross five yards in front of the goal. Melo controlled the pass and turned to fire at the goal, but Kartsonis swooped in at the last second to deflect the ball out of bounds.

“I just saw the ball going out to someone, so I just ran out and got it,” Kartsonis said. “I don’t think too much when I’m playing.”

Ten minutes later, Sheeleigh gave the Crimson some breathing room.

In the 80th minute, Baskind sent a lead pass to Sheeleigh as she cut toward the goal. Columbia goalie Lindsay Danielson charged to the ball, but Sheeleigh got to it first and finished the score to put Harvard up, 2-0.

“Mel played me a perfect ball into the box,” Sheeleigh said. “It felt really good to slip it home.”

When the final whistle blew, the Harvard bench rushed onto the field to celebrate with the Crimson’s six seniors, who were on the pitch together for the final minute of play.

“This game was really just for the seniors,” Leone said. “I’m really proud of the performance they had today.”

—Staff writer Martin Kessler can be reached at martin.kessler@college.harvard.edu.