CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Opening day of the No. 22 Harvard women's water polo conference season produced one win and a loss as the Crimson (14-12, 1-1 CWPA) defeated Saint Francis, but fell to No. 13 Indiana. Sophomores Julie Harrison and Mathilde Ribordy led the Crimson with six points on the day. Both scored four times and assisted two goals, as Harvard defeated Saint Francis, 14-4, before falling to Indiana, 7-6. Senior captains Cleo Harrington and Sami Strutner were recognized prior to the match versus Indiana as part of the Senior Night ceremonies.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Strutner scored three times, assisted another trio of goals, and had four steals on the day. Versus Saint Francis, the attacker recorded a career-high three steals for the second time this year.
• Harrington posted nine saves in the loss to the No. 13 Indiana – her eighth game of the year with nine or more stops.
• Junior goalie Sam Acker registered 14 saves against St. Francis. Acker has made 10 or more saves four times this year.
• Sophomores Julie Harrison and Mathilde Ribordy led the Crimson with six points on the day. Both scored four times and assisted two goals.
• Ribordy posted her second hat-trick of the season and fourth game with four or more points against Saint Francis.
• Harrison's four points and quartet of steals against the Red Flash equaled her career-best.  The two goals against Indiana marked the second-year's fifth multi-goal game of the season.
• Six players scored multiple times against the Red Flash: Sofia Carrera-Justiz (2g, 2a, 2stl), Kristen Hong (2g, 2a, 1stl), Olivia Price (2g, 1a, 1 stl), Strutner, Harrison, and Ribordy.
• Haley Bowe's team-leading five steals were a career-best. 

Game One vs. Saint Francis (12-11, 0-3 CWPA)
Harrison, Carrera-Justiz, and freshman Quinne Pursell got things rolling for Harvard with three goals in the first. The Crimson erupted for six goals in the second, building its lead to 9-1 at the half behind goals Price, Ribordy, Strutner, Carrera-Justiz, and Harrison. Strutner added another after the break and Jilly Cronin brought the score to 11-2 by the end of the third. Ribordy added Harvard's 12th and 13th points in the fourth and Harvard earned the win in its first conference matchup of the year.

Game Two vs. No. 13 Indiana (23-6, 4-2 CWPA)
Harvard responded to a last second Hoosier goal in the opening period with three straight points in the second. Lana Gorlinski delivered a bullet to the far-upper corner 25 seconds into the period to get Harvard on the board. Hong then beat Jessica Gaudreault from distance to put the Crimson up, 2-1. Harvard went up two, 3-1, when Strutner received a pass from Harrington in the corner and found Harrison alone in front. Indiana clawed back to take the lead at the half, 4-3. The Hoosiers added another in the third, but in the fifth minute Price flicked a pass to Harrison for her second goal of the night, 5-4. The Crimson tied it at fives in the opening ticks of the final frame when Ribordy received a long pass from Price and hit a long floater for the equalizer. The Hoosiers regained the lead moments later and pushed its lead to two, 7-5, after a long rebound from a Crimson shot provided a fast break opportunity. Strutner and Carrera-Justiz quickly executed a give-and-go after an ejection whistle to pull Harvard within one, but the Crimson were unable to level the score before time expired. 

Game Two vs. No. 13 Indiana (23-6, 4-2 CWPA)
Harvard responded to a last second Hoosier goal in the opening period with three straight points in the second. Lana Gorlinski delivered a bullet to the far-upper corner 25 seconds into the period to get Harvard on the board. Hong then beat Jessica Gaudreault from distance to put the Crimson up, 2-1. Harvard went up two, 3-1, when Strutner received a pass from Harrington in the corner and found Harrison alone in front. Indiana clawed back to take the lead at the half, 4-3. The Hoosiers added another in the third, but in the fifth minute Price flicked a pass to Harrison for her second goal of the night, 5-4. The Crimson tied it at fives in the opening ticks of the final frame when Ribordy received a long pass from Price and hit a long floater for the equalizer. The Hoosiers regained the lead moments later and pushed its lead to two, 7-5, after a long rebound from a Crimson shot provided a fast break opportunity. Strutner and Carrera-Justiz quickly executed a give-and-go after an ejection whistle to pull Harvard within one, but the Crimson were unable to level the score before time expired.