Women's Soccer Looks to Snap Losing Streak

With three victories to open the season, the women’s soccer team appeared to pick up exactly where it left off last year, when the Crimson (3-2-0) went unbeaten in Ivy League play en route to the league title. However, over the weekend Harvard’s offense stalled, failing to score a goal as the Crimson dropped games against Boston College (7-1-0) and Colgate (5-1-1).

After averaging almost 12 shots per game in its first three contests, Harvard managed only four against the Eagles despite possessing the ball well throughout. The Crimson managed more scoring opportunities against the Raiders but still could not find the back of the net. Harvard had to contend with stout defenses in both matchups, as Boston College and Colgate have each recorded five shutouts already this season.

“I’m not discouraged at all because we did have...more chances than we’ve had in many of our games all put together, we’re just missing them by a little bit.” Harvard coach Ray Leone said. "If we can just work on our finishing a little bit more...we’ll get more of those opportunities on frame.

With Ancient Eight play looming, the Crimson looks to end its recent skid as it travels to Durham on Thursday night for a matchup with the University of New Hampshire (2-5-0).

Historically, Harvard has dominated the all time series between the teams, boasting a 20-3-3 record against the Wildcats.

One of those three losses came last year, when UNH surprised the Crimson with a 2-1 win despite being badly outshot, 21-2. Then-freshman goalkeeper Mimi Borkan starred for the Wildcats in that contest, stopping a season-high 11 shots to lead UNH to the victory.

“One of our biggest things is not looking too far behind us and not looking too far ahead of us,” captain Marie Margolius said. “We’re a whole new team, it’s a whole new season, so of course while we’re keeping last year’s memories in our minds, we’re not really focusing on that as we prepare.”

The Wildcats are a whole new team this season as well. In addition to the year to year roster changeover customary in the college ranks, UNH has a new head coach, Steve Welham, who replaces Sam Lopes. Amid that change, the Wildcats have struggled, surrendering nine goals in seven games while scoring just four.

If any of the Harvard players should keep last year’s game in mind, it is sophomore forward Midge Purce. She scored the lone goal for Harvard in that game and will no doubt be relied upon to do the same on Thursday, as she serves as the creator for the Crimson offensively.

On defense, Harvard has been steady, holding opponents to just one goal per game on average while consistently breaking up potentially threatening chances for opposing offenses.

The biggest question defensively for the Crimson is who will start the matchup in goal. Senior Cheta Emba and sophomore Lizzie Durack have split the goalkeeping duties so far, and the pair has posted similar statistics. In an equal number of minutes, Emba has surrendered one more goal but made three more saves, and both have recorded a shutout.

“They both are playing fantastic,” Leone said. “We’re really really happy with how they’re doing, and we couldn’t ask any more from either one of them.”

The plan has been for them to alternate games, indicating that it would be Durack’s turn to start on Thursday.

If last year is any indication, a few of early season losses will not phase the Crimson as it heads into the rest of the season and begins its Ivy League campaign on September 27 against Penn. Harvard opened the 2013 season with three straight losses before stringing together a 12-game unbeaten streak that lasted through the regular season.

If Harvard is to have similar success later this year, a win against the Wildcats would certainly be a good start.

—Staff writer Phil Delamater can be reached at philipdelamater@college.harvard.edu.