“[We need] to be more patient with the ball in the attacking third,” senior forward Jake Freeman said. “When we’re more patient, really get setup possession wise we can be dangerous…. Secondly it’s about commitment getting to the box to score goal whether it’s on set pieces or the run of play.”

Less than a minute into the game, Cardinal freshman Tanner Beason converted from the penalty spot after teammate Foster Langsdorf was brought down in the box by Harvard junior Tyler Savitsky.

A few minutes later, Langsdorf slotted a shot past Parks after the Crimson goalie was caught off guard while attempting to distribute the ball from within his box.

Just before the 10 minute mark, Harvard conceded another penalty after Parks crashed into Langsdorf in the corner of the box.

Though the junior keeper guessed the right way, Langsdorf shot was too powerful to stop as the Cardinal took a three goal lead.

From there, the Crimson defense began to click as Parks and the backline withheld the Stanford attack for the remainder of the game.

While the Cardinal managed to get two more shots to hit the crossbar, it was unable to penetrate the Harvard backline as the Crimson fought to get back into the game.

“We did a really good job of continuing to do what we do and continuing to push even when results weren’t going our way,” Smith said. “The fighting reaction we had was really good.”

Harvard’s lone consolation goal came in the 80th minute, after a cross hit the arm of a Stanford player to give the Crimson a penalty that Freeman cooly slotted into the back of the net.

Stanford stymied any attempt at a late flurry of goals from the Crimson, as Harvard was unable to register a shot on goal for the remainder of the contest.

–Staff writer Julio Fierro can be reached at julio.fierro@thecrimson.com