Lee scored six goals against Brown in Ivy League Championship semifinal. (Gil Talbot)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - No. 19 Harvard men's water polo (14-6, 4-3) battled it out in Providence, Rhode Island, with No. 13 Brown (14-4, 7-1) in a Ivy League Championship tournament semifinal game, but fell in three overtimes, 14-13. Blake Lee led the way offensively for the Crimson with six goals, while Joey Colton accounted for seven total goals with four scores of his own and three assists.

Harvard and Brown have battled three times this season, but this was the closest battle to date. The first quarter saw the two teams feeling each other out and playing stout defense, ending 3-2 with Brown in the lead.

The game completely change in the second frame with nine total goals being scored. Harvard found the back of the net five times, heading in to halftime tied with Brown 7-7. 

After an offensive explosion, the teams buckled down in the third, with the Bears moving back in to the lead, 11-10. Facing elimination, the Crimson fought hard in the final frame equalizing the score again, at 14-14, to force overtime.

With the a spot in the championship game on the line, both squads battled it out in two scoreless overtime periods. The Crimson nearly pulled out a victory with 10 seconds left in the second overtime. Colton created a man advantage by drawing an ejection and found a streaking Max Murphy, whose shoot ricocheted off the goal post sending the game into sudden victory overtime.

In sudden victory Brown scored first, securing the Bears 15-14 win and spot in the championship game.

The Crimson is back in action with CWPA Northern Division Saturday doubleheader, hosting MIT and Connecticut College. On Oct. 25, the Crimson will face off against the Engineers at 11 a.m. and then get back in the pool at 3 p.m. to take on the Camels.