Another somewhat encouraging performance ended in another discouraging result for the Harvard women’s soccer team (0-3-0).

After falling in a 2-0 hole early against New Hampshire, the Crimson could not quite recover under the lights of Soldiers Field Wednesday night.

“I’m really proud of our team because we didn’t back off,” freshman forward Midge Purse said of the squad’s mentality. “It was ok, now we are down 2-0, now we need to get two more goals.”

Harvard won the possession battle and produced numerous chances but couldn’t overcome the deficit and fell by a final score of 2-1.

“It wasn’t like we were emotionally defeated,” captain Peyton Johnson said. “We were pressing until the very last minute.”

The Wildcats struck first as Kennedy Nickerson’s free kick found Jordan Logue, who slipped it across her body and past junior goalkeeper Bethany Kanten into the corner of the net.

Moments later, Nickerson took a corner that landed in front of the goal and found its way to the back of the net off a Crimson defender.

“Collectively, when we do play well, it just feels a lot better than that, and it wasn’t there tonight,” Purse said.

Harvard picked it up later in the half. One of its best chances came courtesy of Johnson who connected with junior defender Marie Margolius to line a shot at New Hampshire goalkeeper Mimi Borkan.

Johnson once again had a golden chance to put the ball in the net with just eight minutes remaining in the half on a penalty kick, but Borkan guessed correctly, thwarting any positive momentum.

“I think we had a pretty dominant performance but didn’t put it together,” Johnson said.

At halftime, despite being down, the Crimson held the advantage in chances, outshooting its opponent 9-2. Seeking a spark on the defensive end, Harvard also made a substitution at goalkeeper, inserting junior Cheta Emba.

“Coach reminded us it was a position we had been in before,” Johnson said. “And he just told us that the chances will come if we are patient.”

The first threat of the second half came three minutes in when Purse sent a ball across the lip of the goal to charging junior midfielder Meg Casscells-Hamby who was staring at an empty net if she had gotten to the ball.

Harvard didn’t let up thereafter, recording each of the final 12 shots. The Crimson outshot the Wildcats 21-2 over the course of the game.