Hartford Edges W. Soccer

The Harvard women’s soccer team continued its struggles against nonconference competition last night, losing 2-1 against a revenge-minded Hartford team in Hartford, Conn. Unlike the three other nonconference teams that have beaten Harvard this year, the Hawks were unranked.

It was the first time the Crimson (3-4, 1-0 Ivy) has lost four consecutive nonconference games since 1989.

The win was especially gratifying for Hartford (5-4), who has seen its last two seasons end at the hands of the Crimson. Harvard beat the Hawks in the 2000 and 2001 NCAA tournaments, and had won three straight matchups overall.

“I think [the tournament losses] were part of it,” said senior forward Joey Yenne of Hartford’s preparation. “They really felt they needed to perform.”

Hartford opened up the scoring in the 27th minute on a rebound goal by midfielder Tini Lyng. Lyng collected a shot that had bounced off the left post and slid the ball past freshman Crimson goalkeeper Katie Shields.

Lyng scored her second goal of the night late in the second half. Hartford back Annika Michaels hit Lyng on a run in the left side of the box in the 78th minute. Lyng blistered a perfect shot into the net to give the Hawks an insurmountable two-goal lead. The Crimson defense was late to the ball, as Lyng got the shot off uncontested.

Harvard mounted attacks late in the game to try to rebound and finally broke through in the 90th minute on a Katie Westfall penalty kick. However, the goal came too late to put the otucome of the game in doubt.

Yenne said the Crimson was not completely to blame for the team’s loss.

“Despite the two goals, the defense played a really great game overall,” Yenne said.

The loss puts the Crimson’s NCAA tournament hopes in a precarious position. With its four non-conference losses, the Crimson will have a difficult time making the tournament with an at-large bid. Most likely, it would have to win the Ivy League title to secure a spot in the tournament.

“If we’re not Ivy champs, we have to depend on our rank in the region,” Yenne said. “That makes us feel in our hearts that it is much more important to win the Ivy League title.”

Harvard still has nonconference games against regional powers Boston College and UConn left on its schedule. Wins in both games would greatly increase the Crimson’s chances of an at-large bid.

The Crimson’s next travels to defending Ivy tri-champion Penn this Saturday. The Quakers beat Harvard for the first time in school history last year.