CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – For the first time since 2016, the Harvard Crimson men's lacrosse team is in the Ivy League Tournament field. The Crimson (9-2, 3-1 Ivy) secured its place in the Championships tournament by defeating the Penn Quakers (4-8, 1-4 Ivy) in a convincing 13-6 decision at Jordan Field. Fueled by a relentless defensive effort and a six-point outburst from
Jack Speidell, the Crimson secured its first win over the Quakers since the 2013 season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Pen Quakers made the trek up to Boston this afternoon to battle the Harvard Crimson at Jordan Field in what was a cold and rainy day on the banks of the Charles River. Both teams had something to play for today as Harvard was looking to clinch a spot in the Ivy League Tournament and Penn was looking to stay alive in the league standings.
A defense-heavy first quarter began with the Crimson stringing together a few possessions and keeping the Quakers off the attack with stout defensive play. Harvard's first goal of the game from
Teddy Malone was scored in transition off a failed Penn clear. The Crimson caused two more Penn turnovers in succession but still the Quakers were able to finally work the ball into the net to tie the game at one with six minutes remaining in the opening quarter. After the tying goal, the Crimson began to go to work, getting back-to-back goals from
Sam King and
Andrew Perry – both of which were scored off Penn turnovers - to build a 3-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Graham Stevens made his first save of the game to open the second quarter, quickly putting Harvard back on the attack. King and
Jack Speidell recorded back-to-back strikes before the Quakers were able to answer and make the score 5-2 in favor of the Crimson. A sophomore attack, Speidell turned heads yet again with a mind-blowing behind-the-back goal. The Long Island native scored another goal later in the quarter before Penn went on a two-goal run to end the end and make the halftime score read 6-4 in favor of Harvard.
After Penn's goal with 44 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Harvard's defense went on an absolute tear, holding the Quakers scoreless for the next 22 minutes and 43 seconds. The defensive stand allowed Harvard's offense to go on a five-goal scoring run and open up a massive lead at Jordan Field. Once again, the Crimson's first goal of the quarter came off a Penn turnover and out of the stick of Malone, who notched his second tally of the game. Another Penn turnovers and another save by Stevens led into the next Crimson goal, a man-up strike from Speidell. A quick faceoff win from
Jackson Henehan led into another Speidell goal to make the score 9-4, Crimson. At the end of the quarter, Stevens made a clean save and quickly got the ball up field to
Owen Guest who turned on the jets and fired a screaming shot into the top right corner with just .1 seconds remaining in the frame. The goal ignited the Harvard bench and sent the group into the final quarter with a commanding 10-4 advantage.
John Aurandt IV scored a slippery goal to cap the scoring run early five minutes into the fourth quarter. Penn mounted a small comeback attempt, scoring back-to-back goals but Speidell's fifth goal of the day all but solidified the win for Harvard by making the score 12-6 with just six minutes remaining. A caused turnover from
Martin Nelson led into Harvard's final goal of the game from
Logan Ip, who dodged through a pair of Penn defenders off a timeout restart to score his first goal of the day and put the game on ice.
Harvard came away with a 13-6 win over its Ivy League rivals to pick up its first win against the Quakers since the 2013 season and clinch a spot in the Ivy League Tournament for the first time since 2016.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS
- Harvard clinched a spot in the Ivy League Tournament with the result and improved its record to 9-2 and 3-1 in Ivy League play.
- Jack Speidell had another unbelievable game, scoring five goals for the fourth consecutive game.
- Speidell added an assist, four ground balls and two caused turnovers to stuff the stat sheet.
- Martin Nelson led the defensive effort with five ground balls and two caused turnovers.
- Sam King had another stellar day with two goals, two assists, four ground balls and a caused turnover.
- Matt Barraco won 7-of-12 faceoffs and scooped up four ground balls while adding in two caused turnovers.
- Andrew Perry, John Aurandt IV and Owen Guest each had a goal and an assist.
- Harvard's defense forced 24 Penn turnovers and nine failed clear attempts.
- The Crimson won the ground ball battle 45-28 and the faceoff battle, 14-8.
- Harvard has three 40-point scorers for the first time since 1996 in King (56 points), Speidell (47 points) and Teddy Malone (41 points).
Up Next
Harvard will face the nation's current top team, No. 1 Cornell, next weekend in a game that will have major playoff implications. The Crimson and the Big Red will fight for a chance at hosting rights when the sides battle it out at Jordan Field at 12:00 PM on NESN.
