Photo of: Patricia Smith tallied a hat trick in Harvard's 10-5 win over George Washington at the Princeton Invitational.
Photo courtesy of Gil Talbot Photography.

PRINCETON, N.J.- The Harvard women's water polo team suffered its first loss of the season but got right back on course to pick up its sixth win of the season to wrap up the Princeton Invitational. The Crimson took on its first top 20 opponent of the season.

The Crimson's five-game winning streak came to an end as No. 5 Michigan handed Harvard its first loss of the season, a 13-3 decision, to open up the second day of the Princeton Invitational. The Wolverines defense stymied a Harvard offense that came into the game averaging 13.4 goals-per-game. Kristina Bergquist, Devan Kennifer and Elise Molnar each scored a goal in the contest. The Wolverines led 6-1 at halftime and capitalized on six man-up opportunities in the contest. Laurel McCarthy stopped seven shots in the game.

Harvard closed out the weekend with its sixth victory of the season, downing George Washington 10-5. The Colonials tallied the first goal of the contest but the Crimson scored two goals in the first quarter to grab an early 2-1 lead at the first intermission. Harvard netted three more goals in the second quarter to own a 5-2 advantage at halftime. After the break, the Crimson went on an offensive rampage in which they increased the lead to 8-2 heading into the final eight minutes of play. Patricia Smith recorded a hat trick and Ita Kettleborough-Barton and Kennifer both found the back of the net twice in the contest. Lizzie Abbott, Molnar and Monica Zdrojewski each notched a goal in the win. McCarthy turned aside nine shots to put Harvard back on track.

The Crimson returns to action, Feb. 27-28, as it returns to Princeton, N.J. to compete at the ECAC Championships.