With three straight losses, including a defeat at the hands of Ivy-foe Penn, Crimson begin season in a rut

Their efforts showed up on the field, but not in the win column.

The Harvard field hockey team began the season with three tough games before most students had even moved in. The Crimson (0-3, 0-1 Ivy) fell at home 2-1 against Rhode Island September 1, 4-1 against Massachusetts, and 2-0 at Penn.

Harvard, hoping to improve on last season’s 6-11, 2-5 Ivy mark, travels to New Hampshire on Friday looking to pick up its first win of the season.

PENN 2, HARVARD 0

The Quakers (1-3, 1-0 Ivy) captured their first win of the season by limiting the Crimson to five shots. Penn scored at the 5:44 mark of the game, and then again eleven minutes from the buzzer to snap a five-game losing streak to Harvard.

Harvard received a boost from the return from injury of sophomore goaltender Kelly Knoche. Knoche, a second team All-Ivy selection last year, made six saves after sitting out the first two games.

MASSACHUSSETTS 4, HARVARD 1

The Crimson got off to a great start last Monday against the Minutewomen when freshman forward Annie Ardery scored with eleven minutes gone by in the first half. Massachusetts (1-3) stormed back with four unanswered goals, however, to notch its first win of the season.

The Minutewomen put one past junior goaltender Siobhan Connolly from the left side with just 1:07 left in the half. Harvard surrendered three second half goals to lose its second game of the year. The second half goals came at the 40, 44, and 48 minute marks.

Ardery’s goal not only gave the Crimson an early lead, it was the first of her college career. Senior midfielder Aline Brown stole the ball in front of the Massachusetts net and passed to a streaking Ardery, who got past the Minutewomen goaltender and put the ball in the net.

RHODE ISLAND 2, HARVARD 1

The Rams (2-2) won a nail-biter, beating the clock and Connolly with only 3.6 seconds left. The loss was especially tough for Harvard, as the Crimson, playing its season opener, had equalized the score only thirty seconds earlier.

Junior back Devon Shapiro scored off a penalty corner with 36 seconds left in the game to tie the score at 1-1.

All the scoring came after halftime. Rhode Island opened the scoring in the 44th minute, and the score remained the same until near the end.

Connolly played well for Harvard, making eight saves. Senior co-captain back Audrey Ziomek led Harvard with five shots on goal.

—TED KIRBY