CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – After a crucial 2-0 win over Ivy League rival Yale, Harvard women's soccer returns home to host Brown this weekend. The Crimson (5-4-2, 3-1 Ivy) will look to carry the momentum from the Yale win into Saturday's contest to defend its current first-place standing in the Ivy League against the Bears (8-2-3, 2-1-1 Ivy). Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM at Jordan Field to open week five of Ivy League play.

What to Know

The Matchup
Harvard and Brown will faceoff for the 57^th time in series history this weekend in Cambridge. The Crimson lead the all-time series 28-23-5 but is seeking its first victory over the Bears since the 2018 season. The Bears have won three of the past four matchups, with the exception of a draw between the two teams in the 2022 season.

Last Time Out
Harvard picked up a crucial three points last weekend, defeating Yale to move into first place in the Ivy League. Junior Anna Rayhill and first-year Elsa Santos López each recorded their second goals of the season to secure the 2-0 victory. The shutout was anchored by a strong defensive performance and goalkeeper Rhiannon Stewart, who made five saves, posting her ninth career clean sheet. The win marked the Crimson's third consecutive league victory.

Ivy League Tournament Race
Four weeks into the Ivy League women's soccer season, Harvard sits atop the standings with a 3-1 record and nine points, one ahead of Dartmouth (2-0-2) and two clear of both Brown (2-1-1) and Columbia (2-1-1). With just two points separating the Crimson and Bears, and Dartmouth close behind, Saturday's contest carries major tournament implications.

Scouting the Bears
Brown enters the matchup with an 8-2-3 record with several impressive results. The Bears opened the regular season with three straight wins before falling 0-2 to Minnesota. They then remained unbeaten through their next five games, winning three and drawing two ties, before beginning conference play. In Ivy League action, the Bears started with a dominant 5-2 win over Yale, followed by a narrow 1-2 loss to Columbia. Brown bounced back with a 4-0 victory over Penn and a 0-0 draw against Dartmouth. Statistically, Brown has outscored opponents 29-10 and outshot them 227-90. Joy Okonye and Naza Cardoza share the team lead with six goals apiece, while goalkeeper Bella Schopp has posted a .99 GAA and a .655 save percentage in 11 games played.

Individual History Against the Bears
Only one member of the current Crimson roster owns points in her career against Brown. Anna Rayhill recorded a goal in last seasons close 2-1 loss to the Bears. Stewart has made one career start in net against Brown in the 2024 matchup, making three saves.  

On the Stat Sheet

• Jasmine Leshnick and Santos López lead the team with eight points each. Leshnick has three goals and two assists, while Santos López has two goals and three assists.
• Ólöf Kristinsdóttir is tied for the team lead with three goals.
• Leshnick ranks second in the Ivy League with two game-winning goals.
• Santos López ranks second in the Ivy League with four assists.
• Santos López leads all Ivy League first-years in goal contributions with six. She is one of only six players in the league with at least six contributions this season. 
• The Crimson is outshooting opponents 130-116 this season. 

Milestone Watch

• Stewart recorded her ninth career shutout against Yale and is one away from reaching 10 in her career.
• Kristinsdóttir is just one point shy of reaching 25 career points.
• Audrey Francois owns 23 career points, just two shy of the 25-point mark.

Up Next
The Crimson will remain at home next weekend to host Penn in another Ivy League contest. The match is set for 1:00 PM at Jordan Field with all the action streaming live on ESPN+.