And yet, the game never seemed to be in doubt. The moment seemed too big for the Crimson to possibly not win.
Sophomore Brian Rogers’ nifty finish in the 80th minute was the inevitable conclusion for what was a magical night, as No. 10 Harvard prevailed with a 2-1 victory over No. 13 Stanford.
Once again, as Saturday’s win proved, a night game was a winning formula both socially and athletically (the football team has won its last three home openers). So let’s have more of them.
I want to see more kickoffs after dark.
I want to see a first pitch under the lights.
I want our hockey team to take on Cornell outdoors like Boston College and Boston University did at Fenway Park last winter.
I want the Head of the Charles to outrun the twilight.
The Athletic Department has made huge strides with this initiative in the last three years, and I hope they keep pushing.
Perhaps, in night games, they have found a way to make athletics more relevant on campus and an integral part of the undergraduate experience.
—Staff writer Timothy J. Walsh can be reached at twalsh@fas.harvard.edu.