To give BU a dominant 2-0 lead in the beginning of the second half, Lisa Kevorkian scored off a shot from the right side of the field, placing the ball into the left corner of the post.

“Goals always change the game,” Leone said. “Especially when we were down two early in the second half.”

Brittany Heist struck the final blow against Harvard with less than 10 minutes to play.

The junior took advantage of a corner kick placed into the box by Kylie Strom, heading the ball just beyond the reach of Wright.

Earlier in the second half, Wright made an impressive save on another corner kick, tipping the shot just over the upper post.

Like in the first half, Harvard had a number of close attempts in the second.

With just under 25 minutes left in the game, Sheeleigh nearly put the Crimson on the scoreboard, only to be stopped by Binns.

Freshman Elizabeth Weisman also had a scoring opportunity in the waning minutes of the game. Weisman was able to beat the goalie on a breakaway, but a Terrier defender squandered her shot attempt.

“The score didn’t represent the way our team played in this game,” Baskind said. “In the last few games we just haven’t been able to finish.”

Baskind and Sheeleigh led the Harvard offense, each recording four shots on goal.

Despite the loss, the Crimson remains confident in its ability to perform, and succeed, in the upcoming Ivy season.

“We’re not ready yet [for Ivy League competition],” Leone said. “But we will be. [The team] can dig down, they can do it.”

Harvard has one more non-conference contest against Rhode Island at home this weekend before opening Ivy League play against Penn next week.

The team may be off to a rough beginning to the season, but after winning back-to-back Ivy League titles in 2008 and 2009, don’t count the Crimson out yet.

For Leone, it’s less about titles and individual wins than it is about effort.

“I want them to improve every day and give what they’ve got,” Leone said. “If they give everything they have, I’ll be happy.”

Yesterday’s loss could end up being the Crimson’s gain.

—Staff writer B. Marjorie Gullick can be reached at gullick@college.harvard.edu.