CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Harvard women's soccer team is officially in the win column after defeating the Boston University Terriers, 2-1, tonight at Jordan Field. The Crimson (1-3-2, 0-0-0 Ivy) were lifted to the result over the Terriers (3-3-1, 0-0-0 Patriot) after goals from
Anna Rayhill and
Caroline Studebaker.
How It Happened
The Boston University Terriers made the short trip down Storrow Drive tonight to renew the rivalry with the Harvard Crimson. The team faced off under the lights at Jordan Field in the 32
nd meeting in series history.
The contest was intense from the jump as the cross-town rivals were locked in a possession battle for the opening sequence of the game. Harvard threatened a few times in the early going, but could not convert on any chances as the game remained scoreless through 15 minutes.
At the 20' mark, Boston University was awarded a penalty kick after the sides got tangled up in the Harvard box. The Terriers managed to convert on the penalty try – even after the Crimson goalkeeper,
Rhiannon Stewart, managed to get a hand on the ball – to take an early 1-0 lead. Just eight minutes later, Elsa Santos López fed a great ball across the pitch to
Anna Rayhill, who won possession and charged into the area before firing a low shot just inside the back post to equalize the score. The goal was Rayhill's first of 2025 and tied up the game at one.
After 45 minutes, the teams went into the halftime break still tied at one goal apiece.
Rhiannon Stewart made three saves in the first half to help the Crimson hold off the Terriers.
Harvard started strong in the second half, quickly establishing possession while making it difficult for BU to counter. The defensive pressure for the Crimson resulted in a few different runs up the pitch for Harvard. One of those runs resulted in a corner kick, 10 minutes into the second half.
Susie Long took the corner for her team, sending a low cross toward the goal.
Caroline Studebaker came out of nowhere to make a play on the ball and managed to squeak a shot past the BU goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Studebaker's strike put Harvard on top, 2-1, heading into the final 30 minutes of play.
From then on, Harvard kept the pressure on BU with help from the backline of
August Hunter,
Erin Gordon,
Susie Long and
Jasmine Leshnick. The Harvard defense did not allow a single shot attempt after the Studebaker goal, holding off the Terriers for the remainder of the contest.
Harvard rode out the game to pick up a 2-1 victory over the Terriers, earning its first winning result of the 2025 season.
Harvard Highlights
Up Next
Harvard will return to its home pitch this weekend to take on another regional rival in the New Hampshire Wildcats. The Crimson and the Wildcats are set to square off on Sunday (Sep. 14) at 1:00 PM with all the action airing live on ESPN+.
