W. Soccer Meets Yale Today

Coming off three impressive victories, the Harvard women's soccer team (9-1-1 overall, 2-0-1 Ivy) is enjoying a position of confidence, but not overconfidence, as it, prepares to match up against their traditional rival, Yale (4-5-0, 2-1-0).

After coming off a disappointing 0-0 tie versus the Big Red, Harvard picked up its tempo to win the next three games by margins of more than three goals. Decisive victories against Pennsylvania (6-2) and Colgate (4-1 OT) were confidence boosters as the Crimson upgraded its Ivy League record to 2-0-1.

Harvard tallied seven goals in a Wednesday shutout victory versus Central Connecticut, bringing their total number of goals this season to 46, more than they scored during all of last season and enough to lead the Ivy League in team goals.

Sophomore Emily Stauffer believes that these past three victories can only help the team as it takes the field versus the Elis.

"Hopefully, coming off the last three games, we can keep the momentum and put the ball in the back of the net," she said.

She sees the 17 goals that the team scored during the past week as a sign that the Crimson offense is coming together.

Sophomore Karen Gudeman and freshman Jennifer Burney lead the league in overall scoring and goalkeeping, respectively, while freshman Naomi Miller was named Ivy Rookie of the Week. The offensive strength and scoring capabilities, added to the fact that the Harvard defense has let in a league-low six goals during eleven games, is an indication of the team's prowess.

Yet the Crimson is not going into the game over-confidently. Aside from the traditional rivalry, every Ivy League game counts for Harvard, which stands only a half game out of first place, currently occupied by Cornell. Stauffer believes that the team is "in control of [its] Ivy League destiny," but that control is contingent on victories.

Yale also believes that its Ivy destiny is in its hands. As Yale coach Rudy Meredith explains, "If we win against Harvard, it puts us in a position to win the Ivy League."

But Coach Meredith does not believe this victory will come easily.

"Harvard probably is the best team that [we] are going to play all year," he said. "[The Crimson] probably has the strongest bench in the whole league and no glaring weaknesses. We will definitely lose if we don't play our best."

An Eli upset of the Crimson would not be unprecedented. Yale has pulled off some surprising upsets this season. With a new coaching staff and an outstanding coach who prepares the team well for every game. Yale has defeated both Brown and Dartmouth, two consistently dominant teams.

After a disappointing season last year, when they finished 5-10 overall with a 4-2 midseason loss to Harvard, Yale, as the underdog, is obviously looking to pull another upset.

Yet, when it comes down to the tactics of the game, Harvard, instead of focusing on shutting down Yale, is "out to play their own game" with the hope that "their style will overrun Yale," as Stauffer puts it.

Harvard, a much more mentally strong and talented team this year, is trying to build on last year's performance, which translates into a decisive victory.