CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard women's soccer defended its home field tonight, using a five-goal effort to power a 5-2 win over Syracuse. The Crimson (3-1-1, 0-0-0 Ivy) got back in the win column by putting up its highest goal total of the season against the Orange (2-5-0, 0-0-0 ACC).
Hannah Bebar's brace led the way and was supplemented by goals from
Ava Lung,
Susie Long and
Audrey Francois. All four players recorded their first goals of the season in the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Harvard and Syracuse met on the pitch for the fourth time in series history and the second time at Jordan Field.
- The Crimson came out of the gates hot, immidatiely gaining possession and driving the ball into the attacking third. Ólöf Kristinsdóttir fired off the first shot of the game for the Crimson just three minutes into play. Lung had another solid look at the net in the 12th minute, but her attempt just missed the mark.
- Lung found another opportunity on goal than a minute later thanks to a series of great passes from Gabby DelPico and Smith Hunter. After collecting possession, DelPico put a through ball towards the corner for Smith Hunter, who turned on the jets to beat the Orange defender to the ball. Hunter curled a perfect cross into the 18 to find Lung on the opposite post. Lung headed home the goal for her first goal of the season and the first of the game for the Crimson.
- After a quick save from Anna Karpenko in the 15th minute, Harvard moved quickly on the counter. Kristinsdóttir started the play with a strong run into the box, and quickly moved the ball over to DelPico, who flicked it back to Kristinsdóttir, who then found Bebar in the middle. Bebar's spin move freed her up to thread a left footed shot past the keeper for Harvard's second goal of the night.
- Harvard kept its foot on the gas pedal, putting two more shots on target in the next 10 minutes, while doing a great job of keeping the ball out of its own end.
- In the 25th minute, the Crimson struck again to make it 3-0. It was Bebar who slammed home her second goal of the night thanks to a great set up from Jade Rose and Ava Lung.
- The half would end with the Crimson on top, 3-0. The Crimson dominated in the first 45 minutes, outshooting Syracuse 9-3 and coming out on top in shots on goal, 6-1.
- Out of the halftime break, Harvard continued its push, recording a shot on goal courtesy of Audrey Francois less than a minute into the period.
- In the 56th minutes, first-year Susie Long teed up a shot from distance and blasted it into the back of the net to put the Crimson up 4-0. It was the first career goal for Long.
- Syracuse fought back, scoring two goals in the next 20 minutes, bringing the score to 4-2.
- The Crimson would answer with another goal only four minutes later due to a relentless effort from Audrey Francois. Working on the left side of the 18, Francois used a nifty move to cut back inside powering past a crowd of Orange defenders and flicking a shot up and over the Syracuse keeper.
- Harvard closed out the contest with a brilliant save from Rhiannon Stewart, who entered the game in relief of Anna Karpenko.
- The Crimson would hold on to win 5-2 and remain undefeated at Jordan Field in 2023.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS
- Hannah Bebar scored twice for the Crimson, her first two goals of the campaign.
- Audrey Francois, Susie Long and Ava Lung all scored their first goals of the season in the contest.
- Lung, DelPico and Kristinsdóttir all recorded two assists in the effort.
- The four-point total for Lung was a career best.
- 22 players touched the field for the team, a season high.
- The Crimson put 13 shots on goal compared to the Orange's 4.
- Harvard's five goals were the most against an ACC opponent since 1996.
UP NEXT
Harvard will be back on the pitch at Jordan Field this Sunday for another tilt with an ACC foe. This time, it will be North Carolina State coming to town to battle the Crimson at 1:00 PM. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
