Women's Soccer Drops Two Games in Sunshine State

Homecoming was not so sweet for the three Florida natives on the Harvard women’s soccer team, who returned to the Sunshine State for the Crimson’s two weekend contests against the University of Central Florida (4-2) and the University of South Florida (5-1-1).

Harvard (1-2-1) returned to Cambridge from its weekend road jaunt with two tallies in the loss column after falling to UCF, 3-0, on Friday and USF, 2-1, yesterday.

The Crimson was held to just two shots on goal in Friday’s contest but managed to respond with a stronger performance against USF, finishing with a goal and five shots on target. But two scores in less than a minute from USF kept Harvard winless on the weekend.

“Friday night was not a great game for us,” said co-captain Gina Wideroff. “The ball wasn’t moving around. We weren’t playing well mentally or physically. [Yesterday] we responded. The effort was a lot better, but we couldn’t get the result.”

USF 2, HARVARD 1

After Harvard was shut out in Friday’s contest, the Crimson offense got off to a hot start against USF. Freshman Elizabeth Weisman netted Harvard’s first goal of the weekend—and the first goal of her career—11 minutes into the contest, finishing a through ball from junior Patty Yau to take the 1-0 lead.

But that lead would evaporate in less than seven minutes.

Bull forward Venicia Reid notched back-to-back scores in less than a minute to give her team the 2-1 lead.

Reid’s first score came in the 17th minute when she received a lead pass along the sideline and then beat Harvard sophomore keeper AJ Millet.

“They broke in on the left side and just kind of swatted a really nice shot into the corner,” said Millet, who finished with two saves.

Reid struck again 31 seconds later, this time beating two defenders and then notching her fifth score of the season.

“We sort of just let up mentally,” Wideroff said. “We weren’t focused for those two minutes, and that’s what lost the game for us.”

Harvard managed to notch three more shots on goal in the contest but was unable to find the back of the net for the equalizer. Weisman led the charge offensively, finishing with four shots. Sophomore Alexandra Conigliaro chipped in with two shots on target, but was unable to beat USF goalie Nicole McClure, who finished with three saves.

“We were working harder [yesterday], and we created our chances,” Wideroff said. “We just couldn’t get that goal that would have sent it to overtime.”

UCF 3, HARVARD 0

Harvard opened its weekend slate on Friday night in Orlando in disappointing fashion against defending Conference USA champion UCF. Riding a three-game winning streak, the Knights did not let up for their matchup with the Crimson.

UCF got off to a hot start, scoring its first of three goals in the eighth minute when Katie Jackson finished a pass from Kim Newsome in front of the net.

The Knights struck again 20 minutes later, this time off a header from Bianca Joswiak to take the commanding 2-0 lead.

The Crimson, missing top scorer and co-captain Katherine Sheeleigh due to a minor injury, failed to respond offensively, registering just two shots on goal in 90 minutes.

Harvard had its first chance to get on the scoreboard in the 56th minute when freshman Peyton Johnson—coming off a goal and an assist last weekend—took a shot that was knocked away by UCF goalkeeper Aline Reis.

Yau also managed to put a shot on target, but backup goalie Jaclyn Meade came up with a save of her own to keep the Crimson scoreless for the first time this season.

Joswiak added her second score of the contest early in the second half, sealing the 3-0 victory for the Knights.

“Friday’s game wasn’t our best game,” Millet said. “I think it didn’t really go as we hoped it would.”

—Staff writer Martin Kessler can be reached at martin.kessler@college.harvard.edu.