CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Harvard women's soccer (5-3-1, 0-1 Ivy) fell in a tight matchup with rival Brown by a score of 2-0 on Saturday night. On a rainy evening at Jordan Field, the Crimson battled with the top-ranked Ivy opponent but was unable to overcome two second-half goals from the Bears. Harvard will play in its second conference game next weekend when it travels to New York to face Columbia.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Harvard got the first offensive chance between the two Ivy League powerhouses after a free kick landed right in front of the keeper.
Ólöf Kristinsdóttir was able to find a loose ball in the box and get the first shot of the game for either team.
In the 29
th minute,
Kristinsdóttir fed
Smith Hunter who found herself in a one-on-one race with a Brown defender. The senior was able to earn the first corner for the Crimson offense after her shot was blocked by a last-ditch effort from a Bears defender.
Anna Karpenko came out to attack the sole opportunity for the Bears in the first half after Amy König battled for position with a Brown forward, Karpenko was able to dive out and regain possession for the Crimson.
Harvard had much of the possession in the first half in a very tight game between the two top Ivy teams. The Crimson led 7-2 in shots after the first 45. The early opportunity from
Kristinsdóttir stood to be the most dangerous attempt from either team in the first half.
Brown got a corner kick not even two minutes into the second half that was just put high over the crossbar. Shortly after, Brown was awarded a free kick after the forward was tripped up right outside the box. Brown capitalized on the free kick to take a 1-0 lead.
In the 75
th minute,
Gabby DelPico sent Hunter on a quick rush who tried to find
Ava Lung on the other side of the field as the Crimson was looking to respond. Lung crashed the net but was unable to squeeze it through the far post.
Írena Héðinsdóttir Gonzalez kept up the offensive pressure after taking a rocket from outside the box that the Brown goalkeeper was just able to get a piece off to send it over the net.
Despite the push from the Crimson offense, Brown converted on another corner kick to stretch their lead to two in the 59
th minute.
In the 80
th minute, a Brown forward cut towards the middle of the field setting up a great look inside the box. Karpenko was able to get her hand on a ball that was destined for the top corner to keep the score the same late in the second half.
NEXT UP
Harvard is back in action next Saturday, Sept. 30 against Columbia at 5:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
