W. Soccer Upset by B.C. 1-0 in NCAA Second Round

As the Harvard women's soccer team found out yesterday afternoon, there is no such thing as a sure thing.

Despite dominating play early on and controlling the ball throughout, the No. 7 Crimson (14-2-1, 7-0 Ivy) could not find the back of the net, as Boston College (16-6-1) earned a 1-0 victory at Ohiri Field in a major upset in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

With the win, the Eagles avenged a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Harvard--which was the No. 8 seed in the field of 48 in the tournament--Oct. 12.

"It was just one of those days," Harvard Coach Tim Wheaton said. "B.C. is a tough team that plays really hard, and we tip our hats to them."

With just over a minute remaining in the first half, Eagles senior forward Mary Guarino received a pass in the left side of the box from sophomore midfielder Rachel Parri, with just one defender between her and the goal.

Guarino penetrated on the left side of the box and let fly a strong shot toward the left end of the goal, where freshman goalkeeper Cheryl Gunther stood waiting. Gunther, who was moving to her right, got both hands on the shot but could not hold on, as the ball squirted through and into the back of the net.

"They play with three backs, and we haven't had many chances against teams with that style," Guarino said. "We were just trying to work around their system with a quick counter-attack--and I was just lucky that it went in."

Guarino's goal--her team-leading 18th on the season--would be all B.C. needed on this day, as Harvard simply could not get any bounce to go its way. The Crimson outshot the Eagles 23-11 on the afternoon, but could not get the ball past junior goalkeeper Courtney Schaeffer, whose shutout gave her 11.5 on the year.

"We played hard to create opportunities, they just didn't drop for us today," Wheaton said. "I just think that today we were a little unlucky."

Aside from the score, the Crimson defense was spectacular as usual. Led by co-captain Jess Larson, senior back Gina Foster and junior back Lauren Corkery, Harvard had allowed just eight goals entering the game, tied for first in the nation.

As the contest began, the Crimson took control and looked to be in position to repeat its performance from earlier this season, when it routed the Eagles on their home field. B. C., however, remained poised playing the same brand of soccer it had all season long.

"We didn't change our system at all for this game," B.C. Coach Alison Foley said. "We didn't change tactics from the first time we played, just personnel, as we added more speed in the backfield."

Harvard spent much of the first half in the Eagles' zone, always pushing the ball toward the goal, if not getting it into the net.

As a result of its aggressive play, the Crimson did earn its chances on goal, but in what was a recurring theme on the afternoon, Harvard just missed on its opportunities.

Five minutes into the game freshman forward Beth Totman dribbled past a couple of defenders before missing wide right. And five minutes later, freshman midfielder Bryce Weed had a hard drive toward the net saved by Schaeffer.

Play became sloppy in the middle minutes of the half, with neither team creating many chances, but Harvard once again began to apply pressure on the Eagles with 20 minutes left in the half.

In the 27th minute, senior midfielder Ashley Berman took possession of the ball after a scramble in the B.C. zone and dished off to junior midfielder Meredith Stewart. Stewart sent the ball to Totman, whose shot once again floated wide of the goal.

Harvard nearly found its score just four minutes later off a corner kick from the right side off the foot of freshman midfielder Orly Ripmaster. Ripmaster's ball floated over Schaeffer and in front of freshman forward Joey Yenne. Yenne sent the ball toward the net, but just before it crossed the line it was cleared by a B.C. defender.

Then at with just under four minutes left before the break, the Crimson saw another potential goal miss by mere inches. Co-captain Beth Zotter made a beautiful move with the ball to lose an Eagle defender before sending a pass to Berman in the center of the B.C. defensive zone.

Berman--who was a vital to the Crimson attack all afternoon--dribbled right and ripped a drive that seemed to be headed into the top of the net. But once again, it was not meant to be, as her blast was soared just inches above the post.

"I would say that it was just about two inches over," Berman said. "When I kicked it I though it was going in, but it just didn't happen."

With its increasing pressure, the Crimson left itself vulnerable to quick B.C. counters and transition plays throughout the half. The Eagles' opportunities were few in the first 45 minutes, but B.C. finally took advantage with just over a minute to play on Guarino's goal.

Although it went into the break down a goal, Harvard was still confident that it could regain the form that led it to 10 consecutive wins by a combined 24-3 entering the tournament.

"That goal made us a little bit angry," Wheaton said. "We felt that we had the ability to score, and in the second half we thought it would come for us."

One factor working against the Crimson as it entered the second half was the stiff wind it would face for the final 45 minutes.

"Certainly the wind had us a bit concerned going into the second half," Wheaton said. "But we felt that we could still score."

B.C., meanwhile, had not only survived the first half against the wind, but actually found itself in the lead. With a goal already in hand, and the wind in the Crimson's face, B.C. could focus solely on holding its one-goal margin.

"Going against the wind on the road, we just wanted to go into the half 0-0," Foley said. "When we went in ahead 1-0, I told the team that the score just might remain that way. I told them to play the rest of the way in three 15-minute periods, concentrating on playing hard defense in each of them."

Despite B.C.'s increased focus on defense, Harvard continued to apply pressure, coming out of the intermission with aggressiveness.

The opening 15 minutes of play after the break were marked by an all-out assault on the Eagles' goal by the Harvard offense.

Just six minutes in, Yenne made a great sliding tackle on the B.C. side of the field, and the ball found its way to sophomore forward Colleen Moore. Schaeffer, however, collected her shot on goal.

Then in the 57th minute Harvard had perhaps its best opportunity of the game slip from its fingers. Berman lofted a corner kick from the left side in front of the mouth of the goal.

Weed gathered the ball and redirected it toward the net. The ensuing shot seemed headed into the left corner of the goal, but the ball deflected off of the inside of the post and out, and was cleared by B.C.

"[Weed] got the ball and hit it off of the inside post," Wheaton said. "Those are the breaks. We benefited from one of those [in the 1-0 win] against UConn and today we didn't. Sometimes you get the bounce, sometimes you don't."

Harvard continued to press, but found its advances frustrated by an Eagle defense loaded with up to eight defenders trying to preserve the lead.

Then with just under 10 minutes to play, the Crimson was awarded a direct kick from about 10 yards out of the box, giving it a golden opportunity. Stewart lined up and let fly a rocket toward the net, but once again the shot flew just high of its mark, going over the crossbar.

Harvard earned one final scoring chance with a little over three minutes remaining, as Stewart lined up for a corner kick form the left side. The kick floated dangerously in front of the net, but Guarino once again came up big, clearing the ball with a great header that seemed to seal the Crimson's fate.

"That was an absolutely great play," Schaeffer said. "[Guarino] is great at clearing goals, and on that play she was just heads above the rest. Harvard seemed deflated after that play."

B.C. managed to run out the rest of the game, as the Crimson could mount no further attacks.

With the core of its squad including several freshmen, inexperience seemed a possible explanation for the surprise loss to B.C. Harvard, however, dismissed any ideas that nerves and lack of tournament play was a factor.

"I don't think that the loss was so much us playing poorly," Wheaton said. "We created chances and played well, we just didn't finish."

"This game was not much different from the first time we played," Larson added. "We felt we dominated the game, but things just didn't fall our way."

Despite the disappointing finish, Harvard recorded just the third 7-0 Ivy League record since 1991, when all eight schools began to sponsor women's soccer programs. Additionally, the Crimson posted one of the best overall records in school history, ascending to the No. 7 spot in the national rankings.

"[This game] was an unfortunate way to end one of the best seasons this program has ever had," Wheaton said.

"We pride ourselves on stepping onto the field and playing like champions," Wheaton added. "We always want to go out there and show how much we work for and care about this program, and we did that today."

Notes

With the win over Harvard, the Eagles now move onto the third round of the NCAA Tournament, where they will face No. 12 UConn in Storrs, Conn.

On November 11, the Ivy League released its awards for the 1999 season. The Crimson led all teams in the Ivy with four players earning first team selections: Larson, Berman, Foster and Weed. Zotter, Corkery, Totman, Yenne and Gunther earned spots on the league's second team.

Additionally, Larson and Gunther earned the Ivy's two individual honors, Player and rookie of the Year, respectively. Larson--a unanimous selection--and Gunther led a Crimson defense that allowed just three goals in seven Ivy League matches.