But Tiger defender Diane Metcalf-Leggette sprinted into the empty goalie box and bicycle-kicked the ball out of harm’s way to keep Princeton within striking distance.

However, Harvard would not be stopped a second time and soon put the game out of reach.

After a well-placed free kick by freshman forward Karly Zlatic from just outside the box in the 43rd minute, the Tigers blocked the Crimson’s first shot out of the scuffle for the ball. But Fleischman was positioned perfectly to knock in the rebound for her second goal of the contest.

After being denied what looked to be a sure goal 10 minutes before, Purce took matters into her own hands.

Positioned for a free kick a full 48 yards from goal with five ticks left in the half, Purce launched a shot that sailed over the outstretched hands of a leaping Di Caprio to put Harvard up, 3-0.

“[The shot] was insane and it really picked us up going into halftime,” Fleischman said. “It helped us come out stronger in the second half.”

The Princeton defense turned up the pressure following the break, double and triple-teaming Purce whenever she touched the ball.

But even with the extra coverage, Purce was able to come through for her second goal, with help from her teammates in the midfield.

Taking control of the ball in the 86th minute, she dribbled past three Tiger defenders and beat the keeper with a grass-cutting shot that just slipped by, icing the 4-0 victory.

“You don’t see how much a lot of my teammates do, you usually only see the goals,” Purce said. “They fight through the entire game and so when we score a goal it’s such a team effort.”

With the squad now 9-0-2 in its current unbeaten streak, the Crimson can clinch the Ivy League title with a win over either Dartmouth or Columbia in its final two conference match-ups.

Victories over both the Big Green and the Lions in the final two weeks of the season would give Harvard its first undefeated season in conference play since 1999.