Box Score CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Men's Lacrosse went toe-to-toe with No. 1 Virginia (2-0, 0-0 ACC) in its 2023 season opener, making a late second half push before falling to the Cavaliers, 25-21. The Crimson (0-1, 0-0 Ivy) outscored Virginia 13-5 in the second half but ran out of time before the final buzzer.
Sam King scored a career-high seven goals to power the Crimson offense to it's largest goal output since 2015.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Crimson and the No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers met on the lacrosse field for the just the fourth time in program history when the two sides faced off this afternoon.
- Virginia controlled the tempo in the opening period, using a nine-goal run to build an early lead. Harvard put five shots on goal during the stretch, but could not find an answer until later in the quarter.
- Owen Gaffney scored the first goal of the season for the Crimson in to stop the Cavalier run late in the first quarter. Andrew Perry followed up with his first goal of the year before Gaffney found the net again to make it 11-3 at the end of the first quarter.
- Hayden Cheek and Gaffney scored back-to-back goals in the beginning of the second quarter, once again stopping a UVA run, to make the score 15-5.
- Harvard's man-up offense preformed well in the first half, putting four goals up on the board for the Crimson.
- Sam King came alive late in the second quarter, scoring back-to-back goals for the Crimson. Virginia answered with a three-goal run to close the half with the score at 20-8.
- After an early UVA goal in the third quarter, the Crimson went on a four-goal run of its own. The streak was powered by Cheek, Gaffney and another pair of goals from Sam King. Harvard's defense came up big during the stretch, causing three turnovers to keep pressure on Virginia.
- Teddy Malone scored his first career goal, followed by another highlight-reel score, in the fourth quarter. King and Gaffney added goals in another four-goal run for the Crimson.
- Harvard went on one more run down the stretch in attempt to comeback. Sam King kicked and Andrew Perry each had two goals in the final outburst, notching new career highs in the process. John Aurandt IV capped off the run, scoring the final Harvard goal of the night – and his first career goal.
- The final score went down as a 25-21 win for Virginia after Harvard's comeback fell short. The Crimson outscored UVA 13- 5 in the second half and 9-2 in the fourth quarter before it ran out of time.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS
- Sam King netted a career-high seven goals
- Owen Gaffney and Andrew Perry also recorded career high goal totals with five and four, respectively
- Chase Yager caused three turnovers to lead the Crimson defense
- Harvard caused 14 turnovers in the effort
- The 21-goal output is the highest total since the 2011 season
- Harvard's man-up offense went 5-for-6 in the contest
- Lucas Hilsenrath led the squad with three assists, a new career-high
- Adam Blind made seven saves after entering the game in the second quarter
- Teddy Malone kicked off his Crimson career with three points, scoring two goals and dishing out one assist
UP NEXT
Harvard will return to Cambridge to open up its home schedule against the Bucknell Bison. The Crimson and the Bison will meet on the turf at Jor
