Athlete of the Week: Chang Sparks Crimson Comebacks

As the end of regulation neared last Tuesday night at Soldiers Field, the Harvard men’s soccer team (5-3-0) pounded shot after shot at the Northeastern goal. The Crimson had just dug its way out of a 2-0 hole, but with the score tied, the match appeared set for overtime.

With 43 seconds left in the contest, however, junior defenseman Andrew Chang decided that overtime would not be necessary.

After junior forward Oliver White had a shot deflected inside the box, Chang found the ball 18 yards out and rocketed a volley into the upper right corner of the net, sealing the win.

“After I scored, I just ran over to my teammates and to the bench to celebrate,” Chang said. “It felt pretty good.”

Chang’s goal gave Harvard a winning record for the first time since the beginning of 2011. Little did the defenseman know that it would be just the first of two dramatic comebacks on the week in which he would contribute to the winning goal.

On Friday at Massachusetts, the Crimson faced a 2-0 deficit for the second consecutive match. The Minutemen (1-6-0) had scored twice in the first 16 minutes, but with goals in the 39th and 52nd minutes, Harvard forced its way back once again, sending the match into overtime.

Then in the 91st minute, Chang delivered again, lofting a corner kick to the top of the box in the direction of senior forward Hiroki Kobayashi, who connected on a header and found the back of the net.

“It was just a great play for Andrew,” co-captain Kyle Henderson said. “I kind of had the feeling that it was going to come because [we] were playing at such a high level and creating chances for the team.”

The Crimson’s final breakthrough on Friday came after 32 shots, 20 of which were on goal—part of the offensive onslaught that Chang helped lead out of the back. The score line mirrored the team’s previous match against the Huskies (2-6-0), in which Harvard scored three goals in the final 16 minutes, capped by Chang’s winner.

“The whole team knew we needed to keep fighting,” Chang said. “We believed we could come back and win [both matches]. I think that the challenge was just to keep pushing.”

The Highland Park, Ill., native has taken on a larger leadership role with the Crimson this season, starting in seven of Harvard’s first eight matches. Chang says he has been communicating with his teammates more both off and on the field, particularly during halftime breaks when the team discusses areas to improve in the second half.

“I see my role being a leader as an upperclassman,” Chang said. “I need to continue to be vocal and loud, [while] showing confidence and helping out the underclassmen.”

Despite being listed as a midfielder, Chang has played primarily on the back line this season—the same position he played for the USA U-17 national team in 2009-2010. Among his new responsibilities for the Crimson has been helping to build offense out of the back, as seen in the counter-attack that ended in Chang’s match-winning strike against Northeastern.

“Just like everyone on the team, [Chang] put in work this summer,” Henderson said. “It’s great to see that he’s having success on the field.”

Harvard tallied just two goals over its slow 0-3 start, but largely because of Chang, the Crimson has since come rallying back. Harvard now heads into Ivy League play having won its last five matches, outscoring its opponents by nine goals over that stretch.

“I’m really excited for the Ivies to start just as everyone else is,” Chang said. “I’m ready to do what I can for the team.”

With momentum now in their favor, Chang and the Crimson head into the second half of the season seeking to continue surprising onlookers in pursuit of the junior’s tall goals for the season.

“Our goal is to win a national championship,” Chang said.