BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Harvard Men's Lacrosse team is off to a 5-0 start for the frist time since the 2000 season after defeating the Vermont Catamounts on the road this afternoon, 15-12. The Crimson (5-0, 0-0 Ivy) did not allow a single Catamount goal in the third quarter and used a 4-0 run to come away with its fifth-consecutive win.
 
The defense shut down the Catamounts in the second half, shutting the group out for over 18-minutes - the longest shutout stretch of the season – while allowing just three second-half goals to push Harvard to victory.  
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Crimson made its way up to Burlington to take on the Catamounts on their home turf for the first time since 1999.
• Vermont came out of the first faceoff flying, putting up four goals in under four minutes to take am early 4-1 lead.
• The Crimson countered by scoring five consecutive goals in just two minutes to take a 6-4 lead at the halfway point in the first quarter.
• The Crimson began to control the pace by forcing a trio of Vermont turnovers in the final six minutes of the first. The Catamounts did manage to punch back, scoring two goals in the quarter to tie the game at six at the end of the first quarter.
• Harvard got to work quickly in the second quarter, taking an 8-6 lead with two goals in just over a minute. Sam King netted a runner, before an Owen Umansky faceoff win led to a quick Ray Dearth goal.
• Once again, Vermont fought back, matching the Crimson's two-goal run to tie the game at eight goals apiece.
• After the Catamount run, play began to settle down, with both sides settling into long offensive possessions while chasing the go-ahead goal.
• Five Crimson shots were turned aside before Miles Botkiss fired a running shot into the back of the net to give Harvard a brief 9-8 lead. Vermont scored a late goal to level the score at nine heading into the half.
• Both defenses stepped up to keep the score tied at nine, until Sam King broke the scoreless streak at 8:44 in the third quarter. Malone quickly added on to the Crimson lead with a strike less than 30 seconds later.
• Harvard's defense tortured the Vermont attack and clearing units in the third quarter, shutting out the Catamounts for the while period while causing seven turnovers on 11 possessions.
• Another strike from Malone and a long-pole goal for Sean Jordan boosted the Crimson lead to 13-9 to take a four-goal lead going into the final quarter.
• The Catamounts broke its 18-minute scoreless streak with its tenth goal at the 12:30 mark in the fourth quarter. Vermont added another goal to bring the Catamounts withing two, before Sam King scores his fifth goal of the game to kill the rally.
• With the score at 14-12 with 3:30 left in the final quarter, Vermont fired a shot on net at Christian Barnard, who made the biggest stop of the game, maintaining Harvard's two-goal lead. The Crimson quickly cleared and found the game-sealing goal that came out of Logan Ip's stick. The sophomore's goal made the score 15-12, where it would remain at the end of regulation, giving Harvard its fifth consecutive win and its first 5-0 start since 2000. 

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS

• The Crimson is off to its first 5-0 start since 2000.
• Sam King led the team with eight points on five goals and three assists.
• Harvard's offense scored five goals in just a 2:08 stretch in the first quarter, the fastest run of the season.
• Harvard's defense forced 21 Vermont turnovers in the contest.
• Teddy Malone caused a career-best two turnovers and Harvard logged 11 CTOs in the effort.
• Andrew DeGennaro won 13 faceoffs and scooped up seven ground balls.
• Teddy Malone cashed in four points with two goals and two assists.
• The Crimson was a perfect 21-for-21 on clear attempts.
• Harvard was two-for-one on the extra man, scoring a pair of goals on its lone EMO.
• Christian Barnard made 12 saves, a season-high for the senior.

 

UP NEXT

The No. 18 Crimson will make the trip out to Ann Arbor to take on the nationally ranked Michigan Wolverines next weekend. The tilt is set to take place next Sunday (Mar. 10) at the U-M Lacrosse Stadium and on B1G+.