SYRACUSE, N.Y. – First-year goalkeeper
Olivia Busby delivered in the biggest moment of the afternoon, turning aside a Syracuse penalty kick in the 89th minute to solidify a 0-0 draw for Harvard women's soccer this afternoon at SU Soccer Stadium.
Harvard's goalkeeping tandem of
Nicole Bidun and Busby combined for six saves to secure the clean sheet, with Busby making four stops after entering at halftime.
How it Happened
- Harvard wasted little time applying pressure, as Brooke Huleatt had an attempt blocked just 77 seconds into the match before Molly Vana forced Syracuse goalkeeper Maya Naimoli into her first save in the third minute.
- Syracuse answered with a pair of early chances of its own, but Bidun stood tall, stopping shots from Vickie Jones and Julia Arbelaez in a span of just over two minutes to keep the Orange off the board.
- The Crimson settled in and began to dictate the action as the opening half progressed. Harvard peppered the Syracuse defense with 10 first-half shots compared to five for the Orange, while also holding a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks.
- Busby took over between the posts to begin the second half and was quickly called into action. The first-year goalkeeper made back-to-back saves on Moo Galbus and Gabby Wisbeck around the hour mark as Syracuse began to generate more pressure.
- Harvard continued creating chances at the other end. Huleatt forced Naimoli into saves in the 54th and 64th minutes, while Jasmine Leshnick, Amy König and Kennedy Belfon each added attempts as the Crimson searched for the breakthrough.
- The Crimson nearly found it during another dangerous spell late in the match. Anna Rayhill put an attempt on frame in the 85th minute before Huleatt had another shot blocked seconds later, helping Harvard earn consecutive corner kicks.
- The afternoon's biggest moment came with less than two minutes remaining. After Harvard was whistled for a foul in the box, Syracuse's Vickie Jones stepped to the spot with an opportunity to break the deadlock. Busby came up with the answer, denying the penalty kick in the 89th minute to keep the Orange off the board.
- Syracuse managed four more shots in the frantic closing moments, but Harvard's defense held firm to finish off the scoreless draw and earn its second clean sheet result of the young season.
Harvard Highlights
- Brooke Huleatt was a constant threat to the Syracuse backline, leading all players with six shots and three shots on goal in 69 minutes of action.
- Harvard finished with an 18-16 advantage in shots, including a 10-5 edge in the opening half, and generated nine corner kicks to Syracuse's six.
- The Crimson controlled 60 percent of the possession in the contest.
- Nicole Bidun and Olivia Busby combined for six saves and the clean sheet. Bidun stopped both shots she faced in the opening 45 minutes before Busby made four second half saves.
- Busby's fourth and final stop was the biggest, as the first-year goalkeeper saved Vickie Jones' penalty kick in the 89th minute to preserve the draw.
- Danicka Miller, Írena Héðinsdóttir Gonzalez and Jasmine Leshnick each went the full 90 minutes for the Crimson.
- Harvard moved to 1-2-1 on the season while holding a Syracuse side that entered the afternoon 3-1-1 without a goal.
Next Up
The Crimson will remain on the road but return to the Boston area to face Boston University on Thursday, September 3 at 6:00 p.m. ET.
