Junior Jamie Rees scored Harvard's goal at 46:55 (photo courtesy of Gil Talbot).

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Jamie Rees scored a goal in the 47th minute and Austin Harms recorded two saves, but the Harvard men's soccer team suffered a 2-1 loss to Providence at the Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium Wednesday evening.

Harvard (2-3-3) had the first scoring chance in the game, as Richard Smith sent a long ball into the box and Brian Rogers blasted a point-blank shot at the Providence goal.  Jhojan Obando made the save for the Friars at 24:27, keeping the game scoreless.  In the 36th minute, Keith Jecewiz gave the Friars a 1-0 lead as he batted a quick shot toward Harvard goalkeeper Austin Harms.  The ball rolled inside the left post and just past a diving Harms at 35:12.  With only two ticks on the clock remaining in regulation, Jecewiz crossed the ball from the right and Matt Marcin one-timed a shot under the crossbar, making it 2-0 in favor of Providence (5-2-1) heading into halftime.

In the opening minutes of the second half, Rogers had a shot saved by Obando, but Rees collected the rebound from 15 yards out.  Rees sent another shot on net, beating Obando, and cutting Harvard's deficit to 2-1 at 46:55.

The Crimson outshot the Friars, 6-4, in the second half, and 18-8 for the game, but could not find the equalizer.  Harvard also earned 10 of the 12 corner kicks in the contest.  Obando finished the game with five saves for Providence. 

Up next, Harvard will open Ivy League play at Ohiri Field against archrival Yale Saturday, Oct. 2 at 1:30 p.m.