Senior co-captain Katherine Sheeleigh netted the game-winning goal against Rhode Island (photo courtesy of Gil Talbot)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Melanie Baskind and Katherine Sheeleigh each scored a goal, while goalkeeper Jessica Wright made five saves to earn her first-career victory, as the Harvard women's soccer team defeated Rhode Island, 2-1, Friday evening at the Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium.  With the win, Harvard snaps a three-game losing streak and moves to 2-3-1 on the year.

Aisha Price helped create several chances for the Crimson in the first half.  Midway through the period, Price blasted a hard shot with her right foot from 25 yards out, but the line drive sailed just inches over the crossbar and out of bounds.  Later in the frame, Price made a long throw into the box toward several Crimson players, who were crowded in front of the goal. Baskind took the ball and headed it into the right side of the net, putting Harvard ahead, 1-0, at 40:37.

In the second half, URI (0-6-1) knotted the game, 1-1, as Stephanie Santos played a perfect pass to Kaylen Shimoda, who was 20 yards out from the Harvard goal.  Shimoda accepted the pass, turned and fired a ball that beat Wright, tying the game at 60:04.

Harvard responded to the Rams' goal just moments later, as Sheeleigh dribbled the ball in the URI zone and slid a shot under goalkeeper Sasha Reiber at 60:42.  The Crimson, which controlled corner kicks, 6-1, in the second half, shut down the URI offense for the remaining 30 minutes to earn the team's first victory at the new Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium. 

 Up next, the Crimson will open Ivy League play at Penn Friday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.