ITHACA, N.Y. – Harvard women's soccer continued to roll on Saturday, picking up its third win in seven days after a 3-1 victory over Cornell. After being denied on a number of quality chances in the first half, the Crimson (8-3-1, 3-1-0 Ivy) broke through the Big Red backline to score three goals in a 15-minute period down the stretch, securing the win.
Jasmine Leshnick continued her hot streak, scoring another highlight reel goal to lead the way. Ólöf Kristinsdóttir scored her team high sixth goal of the season and
Audrey Francois picked up her second goal in two games to round off the scoring for Harvard.
The Crimson added three more points to its total in the Ivy League table, now totaling nine on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Crimson made the trip out to Ithaca for another matchup against its Ivy League foe, Cornell, looking to improve on its five-game winning streak and 28-match unbeaten streak against the Big Red.
- Out of the gates, Cornell was able to slow down the Crimson offense, limiting its chances in the opening minutes. Harvard did the same on the other end of the field, as neither team recorded a shot until the 10th minute.
- Harvard's first quality look of the afternoon came off a cross from Smith Hunter at the 17' mark. Hunter fed a ball into the middle that Megan Mackey put a head on for a shot that sailed over the crossbar.
- The Crimson made a series of strong defensive plays in the following minutes to stop the Big Red counterattack.
- Hunter, Hannah Bebar and Kristinsdóttir all put shots towards net in the next five minutes of play but could not find the twine.
- The Crimson's final – and best – chance of the half came off a corner kick from Susie Long that was played around the box. August Hunter was the first player to find the ball, putting a shot on net that was saved onto the foot of Audrey Francois, whose rebound chance was once again denied by the Cornell keeper.
- After 45' the scoreboard would remain empty. Shots favored Harvard at the end of the half, 8-7.
- Harvard started fast out of the break, quickly pushing the tempo into the attacking third. Bebar had three great looks denied by Cornell in the opening ten minutes of the half.
- Starting goalkeeper Anna Karpenko came up clutch at the 57' mark, making a save to keep the game scoreless.
- Just five minutes later, Harvard would finally break through thanks to another highlight reel goal from Jasmine Leshnick. The first-year scored the go-ahead tally off a free kick just outside the 18 after her shot went bar-down and into the net.
- Kristinsdóttir was next on the scoresheet for the Crimson at the 68' mark, after making a series of great touches. The first-year weaved around two Big Red defenders and thread a shot past the keeper.
- Cornell looked to counter after the back-to-back goals, but were denied by the Crimson backline of Jade Rose, August Hunter and Anna Karpenko – who made another save in the next series of possessions.
- Audrey Francois scored the final Crimson goal of the afternoon with a strike at the 78' minute mark. Jade Rose set up the third goal of the game, feeding Francois who scored from distance to increase the Crimson advantage.
- The Big Red would battle back, scoring a goal of its own – the first Harvard goal conceded in 294 minutes played – but it was too little, too late as Harvard would hold strong down the stretch to secure a 3-1 win and three more points in Ivy League play.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS
- Jasmine Leshnick got her second goal in as many games with a free-kick strike. Her third goal of the season would also go down as the game-winner.
- Ólöf Kristinsdóttir scored her team-leading sixth goal of the year.
- Audrey Francois also found the net to score her third goal of the campaign.
- Jade Rose and Gabby DelPico picked up assists in the win.
- The Crimson outshot the Big Red 18-15 in the match, and held the advantage in shots on goal, 9-4.
- Anna Karpenko made three saves in the matchup.
- Harvard had its scoreless streak snapped at 294 minutes, the longest stretch of the season.
- The Crimson improved its win streak over the Big Red to six games and its unbeaten streak to 29 contests.
- Harvard's Ivy League road unbeaten streak also improved to 11 games.
UP NEXT
Another tough Ivy League test awaits the Harvard Crimson next weekend. After a three-game in seven-day stretch, Harvard will now return to its normal game week schedule and prepare for another critical league contest against Princeton. The Crimson and the Tigers will jockey for position in the Ivy League table next Saturday, Oct. 14 at Jordan Field.
