Wintersession Matchups to Watch

With a precious nine days left until the school year begins, The Back Page previews the five games that Harvard students should keep their eyes on as the winter break winds down.

Men’s Hockey v. Colgate (Bright-Landry Hockey Center, Jan. 18)

After consecutive losses to rivals Yale and Cornell, the Crimson will look to bounce back at home against Colgate. The focus for the team will be on playing defense until the end of the period and not giving up the late goals that it did against the Big Red on Friday, when lapses at the end of the first two periods sunk the Crimson.

Wrestling v. Cornell (Ithaca, NY, Jan. 18)

In its first Ivy League contest of the season, the wrestling team will travel north to take on the sixth-ranked Big Red. So far, the team has struggled in the New Year, dropping three of five decisions since the turn of the calendar. After traveling to Ithaca, however, the Crimson will be at home for the next three matches.

Battle for Beantown, Women and Men’s Track and Field (Gordon Indoor Track, Jan. 18)

After a year off hosting the event, Harvard is again hosting the sixth Battle of Beantown. The women’s team, which finished second overall in the Dartmouth Relays earlier this year, has won the event three straight times. Last time the meet was held, the men’s team made it a clean sweep with a win on its home track in 2012.

Women’s Basketball v. Dartmouth (Lavietes Pavilion, Jan. 25)

Since an opening game 24-point loss to DePaul, Harvard has been on fire, winning 11 of its 14 matchups—including four consecutive double-digit wins as part of a six-game winning streak in November. Behind the efforts of senior guard Christine Clark (16.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg), the team is undefeated at home as it faces a Big Green squad it beat by 10, 73-63, on Jan. 26.

Men’s Basketball v. Dartmouth (Hanover, NH, Jan. 26)

The Crimson opened the Ivy League season with a 61-45 victory over the Big Green at home on Jan. 11 but will travel back to Hanover for the sequel just two weeks later. Big Green junior Gabas Maldunas dominated in the first matchup, scoring 23 points, but Crimson junior Wesley Saunders (injured in the first meeting) will give Harvard an offensive spark if he returns.