CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard women's soccer (6-0, 0-0 Ivy) continued its strong start today, earning a 4-1 win over in-state rival Massachusetts (1-4-3, 0-0 A10). The Crimson scored four goals in the match, the most the program has ever scored against the Minutewomen. Angela Caloia, Hannah Bebar, Aslaug Gunnlaugsdottir and Gabby DelPico had the goals in the victory.
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Right off the opening kick Harvard looked to attack, working the ball up the field and into UMass territory. Ainsley Ahmadian had the first quality scoring chance of the game just 43 seconds into the contest, but was turned aside. Taylor Fasnacht had another good look just eight minutes later, but her attempt led to the same result.
 
The Crimson would find a tally in the 9' minute off a penalty kick from Caloia. After UMass was flagged for a handball, Caloia set up on the dot and stuffed a shot into the bottom right corner to put Harvard up 1-0.
 
Once again, the Crimson defense was stout, holding off the Minutewomen for much of the first 45 minutes of play. Starting goalkeeper, Anna Karpenko, preserved the 1-0 lead with a save at 17'. The backline - led by Lara Schenk, Jade Rose, Smith Hunter and Taylor Fasnacht -  allowed only two shots after that.
 
Late in the first half, Bebar created a scoring chance for herself after intercepting a pass and making a run towards the UMass goal. The sophomore would net the goal, putting Harvard up two and extending her point streak to six games. The score would remain 2-0 heading into the halftime break.
 
The Crimson attack continued coming out of halftime, scoring two goals early in the second frame. Gunnlaugsdottir netted her first goal of the season and the first goal of her career just before Gabby DelPioco scored another goal just 1:13 later to boost the lead to 4-0.
 
UMass fought back with one tally later in the second half, but Karpenko would clean up the other two shots she would face to keep the score at 4-1 at the end of the match. 22 players saw the field today and contributed to the program's sixth straight win.
 

GAME NOTES

• Harvard women's soccer is now 6-0-0 for the first time since 1996
• All 22 active field players saw game action, the most all season
• The Crimson's four goals were the most all-time vs. Massachusetts (30 games)
• Hannah Bebar scored a goal to extend her point streak to six games
• Angela Caloia scored her second goal of the season on a penalty kick
• Aslaug Gunnlaugsdottir scored her first career goal in the second half
• Gabby DelPico scored for the first time since 2019, with her eighth career goal
• Captain Ava Lung and Hollyn Torres notched their first points of the season with assists on the Gunnlaugsdottir goal
• Anna Karpenko improved her record to 3-0 on the season
• The Junior has now saved .727 percent of shots faced
• Jade Rose led the team with 90 minutes played on the backline
• Lara Schenk, Smith Hunter, Jordan Di Verniero, Sophie Hirst and Josefine Hasbo all contributed with strong performances in the defensive end and the midfield
• Harvard put 10 shots on goal in the contest off 19 shot attempts
• The Crimson also had the advantage with nine corners compared to UMass's two
• Harvard is now outscoring opponents 18-3 and outshooting them 98-38 

UP NEXT

The Crimson will have the week to prepare for its toughest test yet when it travels to Fort Worth to face the No. 16 Texas Christian University Horned Frogs. The match will take place next Saturday, September 17, at 8:00 PM EST/7:00 PM CT. This will be Harvard's last tune—up before Ivy League play begins on Sep. 24.