No. 9 Huskies Await Rejuvenated W. Soccer

The Harvard women’s soccer team looks to bolster its case for an NCAA invite today against the team that ended its NCAA run last year.

Playing the sandwich game of a three-game set against nationally-ranked opponents, an eager Harvard team (7-5-1, 3-1-1 Ivy) looks to upset the top-ranked team in the Northeast, Connecticut, after shocking then-No. 15 Princeton on Saturday. The task, however, will not be easy as No. 9 UConn (14-2-1, 5-0 Big East) enters the game having won 11 of its last 12.

Entering the season, preseason prognasticators picked UConn to finish well below its current standing, largely due to the 12 seniors whograduated last season. Soccer Buzz, for one, didn’t even have the Huskies in its top 25. Harvard, by contrast, was ranked No. 21 in the same poll despite having been shut out by UConn twice last season.

Nevertheless, the Huskies’ present record indicates that they have more than held their own.

Sophomore forward Kristen Graczyk, the Huskies’ leading scorer the past two seasons, has already eclipsed her freshman scoring totals. Among the notable scores of her career was the shot that downed Harvard in NCAAs last year.

UConn’s roster carries 11 freshmen who have complemented a core of upperclassmen in maintaining regional supremacy. The class included highly touted Brittany Barakat, a High School All-American and Texas Player of the Year. She has lived up to her billing with eight goals for the Huskies, good for second on the team.

UConn’s ability to compete year after year, while replenishing its lost talent with young players is a testament to the program’s overall strength.

“They are one of the most successful programs in intercollegiate soccer,” said Harvard coach Tim Wheaton. “UNC and UConn are the only teams that have made the NCAA tournament every year. Certainly there exists a great history and a great program.”

Among the indicators of the Huskies’ dominance is their 21-3-1 all-time record against the Crimson.

Harvard, now ranked fourth in the Northeast, comes into the regional showdown fresh off a thrilling double-overtime victory over previously unbeaten Princeton. The Crimson still needs help if it hopes to secure the Ivy League Championship—namely wins in its remaining two league games and a Princeton tie or loss against Cornell this Saturday.

A win over UConn would help build the Crimson’s case for an NCAA Tournament bid. With only three regular season games remaining, defeating UConn and following up against No. 22 Dartmouth this weekend could propel the Crimson into prime position come selection time.

Freshman back Sara Sedgwick, who scored Saturday’s game-winner and was named Ivy League Player of the Week, said that Harvard can ride the momentum to another important win.

“Princeton was undefeated and we went in there and proved that we could definitely play with them,” Sedgwick said. “So going up against UConn we definitely have a lot more confidence…We’re feeling good about it and I think it’s our game to win.”

Strong rivalries rarely develop between teams in separate leagues, but given their recent intense meetings, one might expect a healthy antagonism between the two teams.

But despite last year’s NCAA ouster at the hands of the Huskies, Wheaton cautions not to read too much into their recent history.

“There certainly is a rivalry, but I don’t think it’s revenge,” Wheaton said. “‘Revenge’ kind of implies being wronged, and I don’t know if we feel that. We played them very close in the last couple of years. We were fortunate enough to get a win. We feel we are good enough to beat them, and we’ll do everything we can to do that.”