Hosting some of the best teams in the nation, the Harvard women’s water polo team had some trouble against top-ranked opponents this weekend at the Harvard Invite. The Crimson went 1-3 on the weekend against the stiff competition.

SANTA CLARA 9, HARVARD 7

In a game that honored the Crimson’s two seniors as their final home contest of the season, Harvard (8-6, 0-1 Ivy) put up a fight against the No. 18 Broncos (7-9).

“The support was so awesome,” co-captain Shayna Price said. “[The way] the teammates, parents, and fans treat you at the end of your years is awesome. I’m definitely going to miss it, but I know there’s half a season left.”

By halftime the score was tied at four, with the lead having changed three times in the first two frames of play. Goals by freshman Melissa Balding and junior Kalina Grabb brought the Crimson to the tie.

“Santa Clara is a very good team, and they battled very well,” Harvard coach Ted Minnis said. “I’m very proud of the way my girls played. They played four quarters of great water polo in this game.”

In the second half of the game, the Bronco’s offense came out firing, with two quick goals in the first three minutes of the third quarter.

Sophomore Yoshi Andersen brought the match to a tie at six with a goal from five meters out that skipped past the Broncos’ goalie and floated past the goal line for a score.

Another Andersen goal off a spin move was Harvard’s last score of the game, as Santa Clara scored two more in the final eight minutes that proved to be the final and deciding tallies of the game.

HARVARD 9, MARIST 8

In its only win of the weekend, the Crimson came out strong on Sunday morning to rally and beat the Red Foxes (4-12).

After opening the game with one goal apiece, Harvard was able to score three goals in a row to lead, 4-2, at the end of the first quarter.

The Crimson did not give up its lead for the rest of the game, and Harvard found itself up, 6-3, halfway into the second quarter. Marist came close to seizing the lead midway through the second half when the Red Foxes tied the game at seven. Price and Balding kept the Crimson’s lead by notching two goals late in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

“The girls always come with lots of effort,” Minnis said. “We want to be one of the top teams in the country and to do that we have to play against the top teams in the country.”

SAN DIEGO STATE 12, HARVARD 8