Crimson Wins Second Straight

After holding on for a win against Columbia on Saturday, the Harvard women’s lacrosse team found itself in league action again on Wednesday. Hosting Brown at Jordan Field, the Crimson continued its winning ways with a 12-7 victory.

Harvard (5-10, 3-3 Ivy League) continued its recent style of play with another strong showing in the first few minutes.

“It was another great start,” coach Sarah Nelson ’94 said.

The Crimson applied defensive pressure causing 16 Bears turnovers in the first period, compared to just one for Harvard. With the extra possession time, the Crimson reeled off 26 shots in the first frame alone, more than double the nine attempts mustered by Brown (4-10, 1-5 Ivy League).

Despite the statistical edge, Bears goalkeeper Melissa King maintained a tight lid on the goal, holding the Crimson to only nine first-half goals on its 26 attempts. King also wrangled in 12 saves on her way to 21 for the game.

The Harvard offense maintained its composure as its first three shots were all saved by King. Freshman Kaitlin Martin helped initiate what would become the Crimson’s first goal of the game when she earned a free position shot in a struggle for a ground ball. Martin passed up on the shot and found junior Margaret Yellott on the outside. Freshman Sarah Bancroft, cutting into an open lane, took the pass from Yellott and, with a quick spin, found the net to put Harvard on the board.

Brown senior Kate Staley provided the tying score to even things up early on, but Harvard would continue its dominant play. The Crimson sank three unanswered goals to gain a quick advantage. Junior Perry Barlow led the Harvard offense, posting a hat trick in the first half as the Crimson built on its lead. Inlet passes pounded the Brown defense, and the majority of the scores resulted from Harvard finding open lanes and exploiting them.

“We’ve been practicing passing all season,” Nelson said.

The Bears would pull within one goal as the two teams traded tallies in the final minutes of the period. The Crimson, however, pulled out a 4-0 run to close the half leading 9-4. A 3-0 run in the second by the Bears was not enough to turn the tide. Three more Harvard goals solidified the victory.

Martin and Bancroft posted two goals each while seniors Allie Kaveney and Bridget Driscoll, Yellott, and sophomores Natalie Curtis and Caroline Simmons each added one.

Goalkeeper Kathryn Tylander made nine saves to earn the victory.

With the win, the Crimson aims to preserve its current momentum for Friday’s game against Cornell.

Harvard not only looks forward to ending the season with a winning record in Ivy League play, but the game, being the final regular season matchup, takes on more significance.

“We want to honor our seniors,” Nelson said. “And we want to send a message that we’re ready for next year.”