Men's Soccer Earns First Result of Young Season

Taking all 110 possible minutes, the game between Harvard men’s soccer team and visiting Lafayette at Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium was a dog fight throughout, ultimately ending in a scoreless tie. The Crimson had many opportunities late, but could not quite manage to put the ball in net.

The lack of scoring was certainly not due to a lack of energy. Although the game started off slowly for both teams, a fired up Harvard (0-3-1) team was able to get the ball up field throughout the second half of the game, but had trouble putting it in the box, with many opportunities coming from long lob balls that were quickly headed out by the Leopards’ (1-0-5) defense.

“On the offensive side, we are getting good chances, but we have to get more numbers in the box,” Harvard coach Pieter Lehrer said.

Freshman forward Ashi Geberkidane led Harvard with three shots for the game, including a near score at the end of the first extra period. A ball from outside found him in the box and he tried to go nearside, before the goalie smothered it. Geberkidane was just one of a number of freshmen that contributed significantly Sunday afternoon.

Throughout the game the Crimson got tripped up in the box a number of times and attempted to draw penalty kicks to no avail. Overall, the teams were dead even on fouls, 12-12.

Lafayette on the other hand had trouble maintaining possession in its attacking third all game. As a team, the Leopards only took six shots and earned just one corner. Harvard managed twelve shots and attempted six corners, including one to end regulation.

Co-captain goalkeeper Brett Conrad had four saves to earn his first shutout of the season in goal for the Crimson. For the year he has averaged 1.88 goals allowed and secured 20 saves.

“He was very good at organizing, and that’s a big component of keeping it out of the net,” Lehrer said. “You could hear him and [he took] a big jump forward in that respect—improved at it a lot.”

The goalie was quick to credit his back four for helping with his success. Lafayette was unable to crack through them all game and they were integral in sending balls back into the offensive end after they had been cleared out to keep the pressure on the Leopards’ goalie.

“I think the defense did a great job, just a lot of communication,” Conrad said. “Something we had struggled with was just going the full 90 minutes. We put that effort in and it was just a great team performance.”

After such an energetic regulation, many players on both sides were visibly tired, stretching and rehydrating. Despite the fatigue, both teams came out strong in overtime.

“It’s all part of our philosophy, we like to do a five minute pushup before the game to mentally prepare ourselves to make sure we have the inner fight at the end of the game,” Conrad said.

From the sidelines it was palpable how much this philosophy was in effect. Harvard’s players were involved the whole game, even if they were not on the field, pleading with the referees and encouraging their teammates.

“We see everyone on the team as a leader, and they have to contribute,” said Lehrer.

In the end Harvard was happy to get any result in its favor. The tie snapped Harvard’s three game losing streak, getting it it’s first result of the season. It also was Lafayette’s fifth in six games this season allowing it to remain undefeated.

Despite failing to earn the first win of the season and his first win as head coach of the Crimson, Lehrer remained optimistic about his team.

“I think the energy of the group is phenomenal,” Lehrer said. “When we get our opportunities up front we must make sure that we take them—that we finish them.”

Coming up for the Crimson is a road game at Hartford on Friday, then back to Cambridge for a grass match on Sunday against in-state rival Massachusetts. Harvard certainly believes any of the games are winnable. League play starts Oct. 5 with a trip to New Haven.

“We’re good enough to compete with anyone we play,” Lehrer said.

—Staff writer Jacob W. Lynch can be reached at jacoblync@gmail.com.