However, this year the Crimson will not have to deal with arguably the best player in last year’s matchup, Daniel Haber. The former Ivy League Player of the Year forwent his senior year with the Big Red to play in Cyprus First Division. In his final year with Cornell, Haber amassed 18 goals and seven assists and was nominated for the Mac-Hermann trophy, the highest individual award in NCAA men’s soccer.

This year, a three-pronged attack leads the Cornell attack. Seniors Patrick Slogic and Jake Rinow and junior Conor Goepel have each recorded a team-high two goals on the season. Slogic and Rinow have also added two assists apiece.

“The key for us [against Cornell] will be to be safe with the ball,” Harrington said. “[We can’t] lose possession in dangerous areas.”

Junior defenseman Peter Chodas also looms large as a threat for the Big Red. Chodas won Ivy League Player of the Week co-honors earlier in the year, assisting on a goal in a 2-1 win over Binghamton and providing the lone goal in a 1-0 victory over St. Joseph’s.

Harvard is looking for a spark on offense to overcome Cornell’s superb defense.

The team may look to Harrington and junior Hiroki Kobayashi, who have been the most productive offensive forces for the Crimson so far this year, with six and five shots on goal, respectively.

“We’re creating some very good chances on goal,” Lehrer said. “Sometimes just willing the ball into the goal [off the shin or forehead] is the way that starts to turn things around.”