CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Harvard men's lacrosse team kicked off its 2024 season in style, pouring in 23 goals in a masterful offensive effort and defeating the Providence College Friars, 23-7 at Jordan Field. The Crimson (1-0, 0-0 Ivy) never looked back after grabbing the lead with a 10-0 scoring run in the first half. A number of Crimson players posted career numbers in the contest, including leading scorer
Graham Blake (six goals),
Sam King (five assists) and
Teddy Malone (five goals).
The all-around effort sent the Crimson off with its largest win in a season opener since the 2000 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Crimson welcomed back its fans to Jordan Field to open up its season against the Providence Friars on a frigid afternoon in Boston.
- Harvard set the tone early, establishing a stout defensive presence in the first two series and forcing two Friar turnovers.
- Teddy Malone scored the first Harvard goal of the season four minutes into the action after sneaking around the crease and firing a low shot underneath the stick of the Providence goalie.
- The sides would split scoring plays on the next two possessions to make the score 2-1. Sam King scored his first goal of the season to boost Harvard back into the lead.
- Graham Blake scored the next two Crimson tallies before Providence matched with a run of its own to make the score 4-4 with just over two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
- Logan Ip and Blake both added strikes in the closing minutes to give the Crimson a 6-4 lead after the first. Blake completed his first quarter hat-trick with a buzzer beating goal off a nifty feed from King.
- The Crimson went on a relentless scoring run in the second quarter, putting up five unanswered goals in the quarter to build an 11-4 lead at the half.
- King, Ip, Malone and DeGennaro picked up the goals in the quarter while Christian Barnard made five saves to keep the Friars off the board.
- Harvard continued its onslaught in the third quarter, scoring three quick goals in the opening minutes of the second half. Malone potted two more goals to give Harvard a 14-4 lead.
- After the Friars finally broke the Crimson scoring run, Christian Barnard took a clear attempt the length of the field before finding himself unmarked in a dangerous scoring area. Barnard boucned a shot past the goalie to score his third career goal and send the Harvard bench into a frenzy.
- Harvard a 17-5 lead heading into the final quarter of play after two more goals from Blake.
- Blake would tally his career-high sixth and final goal to open the fourth quarter. John Aurandt IV added his first goal of the season to give Harvard a 19-5 lead.
- Aurandt would score again down the stretch before Liam Griffiths, Griffin Pokorny and Mychael Smyth all notched their first goals of the season to close out the action.
- The Crimson completed the 23-7 victory behind an impressive all-around effort from its team.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS
- Graham Blake scored a career-best six goals to lead the attack.
- Sam King notched a game-high eight points with three goals and five assists.
- The junior captain also snagged seven ground balls and led the team with three caused turnovers in the matchup.
- Teddy Malone also set a new career-high with five goals and six points.
- Martin Nelson and Joost de Koning both caused two turnovers to lead the defense.
- Christian Barnard made 9 saves while only allowing six goals.
- The Crimson went 19-for-20 on clears in the matchup.
- Harvard grabbed 43 ground balls compared to Providence's 26.
- Andrew DeGennaro went 15-for-22 in a career effort in the faceoff circle.
- DeGennaro also scored a goal and led the squad with eight ground balls.
UP NEXT
The Crimson will return to action this Tuesday (Feb. 20) when it hosts the Bryant Bulldogs at Jordan Field. Harvad and Bryant will clash under the lights at Jordan at 7:00 PM (ESPN+).
SOCIAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
