Junior midfielder Brooke Dickens, shown here in earlier action, headed in the game’s only goal less than two minutes into the second overtime period. In UNH’s first-ever home field night game, Harvard earned its fourth win of the season in its penultimate game before league play

Sixteen proved to be the Harvard women’s soccer team’s lucky number in a non-conference victory over the University of New Hampshire. 

After taking 15 shots during regulation and the first overtime on Thursday night, the Crimson snapped its two-game scoring drought and losing streak with shot number 16. Nearly two minutes into double overtime, junior midfielder Brooke Dickens hit a game-winning header off a corner from co-captain Meg Casscells-Hamby to lift Harvard (4-2) past the Wildcats (2-6), 1-0.

“We knew that if we kept winning balls in the middle and kept controlling the pace of the game, it would come eventually,” goal-scorer Dickens said. “The effort was there and we knew that we wanted it more than they did.”

Playing in its first ever home night game at Cowell Field, the Wildcats came out with energy. In the first half, the two low-scoring, defensive-minded teams battled for an early lead. 

New Hampshire looked like it might strike first when its only goal scorer yet this season, freshman forward Brooke Murphy, got off a shot on goal in the 44th minute. But the play of Crimson senior goalkeeper Cheta Emba kept the game tied at zero. 

Emba saved all three shots that came her way in the first half to bring her season saves total to 15. 

The Wildcats again threatened early in the second half. In the first minute of the half, New Hampshire’s sophomore midfielder Lilly Radack found an opening and took a shot. Harvard’s sophomore goalkeeper Lizzie Durack, who replaced Emba after halftime, made the save to keep the score level. Durack and Emba combined for their third shutout of the season.   

“[Our goalies] have been super solid for us,” co-captain Marie Margolius said. “They play a huge role in helping direct the back line and keeping us defensively strong. It’s really nice to have someone behind us who we all feel super confident in.”

Coming off two shutout losses to Boston College and Colgate this past weekend, the Crimson entered the game hoping to kickstart its offense. 

Deeper into the second half, Harvard started to pressure the home team. The visitors outshot the Wildcats 6-5 in the second half, 4-0 in the first period of overtime, and 1-0 in the second.

Midway through the second half, Harvard applied increasing offensive pressure to New Hampshire’s defense. The Crimson controlled possession and took command of the field, firing off four shots in the final 25 minutes of regulation time. 

During the first period of overtime, Harvard put together a string of scoring opportunities. In the 92nd minute, sophomore forward Midge Purce connected with a Casscells-Hamby’s cross, but her header bounced off the crossbar. 

Dickens followed up with two shots in the 96th and 98th minutes, but Wildcats’ sophomore goalie Mimi Borkan saved them both to keep New Hampshire in the game. 

According to Margolius, these close chances “only added to our energy.”

“Going into the game, we wanted to create chances for ourselves and we definitely did it so we were excited about that,” the senior defender said.

The Crimson’s ability to maintain a high level of play at the later stages of this game reflect the team’s fitness and depth, according to Harvard coach Ray Leone.

“We definitely have strong fitness,” Leone said. “We also have a lot of depth on this team so we have a lot of people to go to and were playing a lot of players so that helps as well.”

The Crimson made 14 substitutions during the game, compared to only four made by the Wildcats. 

With only one contest remaining before the start of Ivy League competition, Harvard’s ability to breakthrough in this one builds the team’s confidence. 

“We want to feel good going into the big-time Ivy League games and this was a good weight off the team’s shoulders,” Leone said. “We are really just concentrating on trying to improve our play and today was just a really good performance the whole way.”