W. Soccer Three-Peats, Reaches Elite Eight

Every contest must have a champion, and every champion must have those intangible qualities that turn potential into results. On the frozen tundra that was Ohiri Field on Nov. 23, 1997, the Harvard women's soccer team showed what it takes to be a champion.

Battling frigid temperatures made more bitter by an unyielding wind and playing against the backdrop of snow piles along the sidelines, No. 17 Harvard (13-4-2, 6-1 Ivy) battled No. 25 George Mason (14-6-4, 7-1 CAA) for over 141 minutes in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Before a home crowd of nearly 800 shivering fans, the Crimson played the Patriots to a 1-1 tie through 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of two overtime periods.

Tension was high and the weather conditions were abominable, but Harvard played with the will that a team needs in order to contend for a national championship. A national title, merely an afterthought at the start of Harvard's season, was what Harvard was pursuing now. And in the 142nd minute of play, the Crimson took one more step toward attaining that goal.

Twelve minutes into the third sudden death overtime, sophomore midfielder Ashley Berman raced the ball down the right flank and dumped it to freshman Erin Aeschliman, who spun around and fired a shot at the George Mason goaltender. The keeper was able to dive and deflect the blast, but the ball came to junior forward and Ivy League Player of the Year Naomi Miller, who knew just what to do with it. Miller calmly deposited the ball into the back of the George Mason net and sent her Harvard teammates, coaches and fans into a hysterical frenzy.

The Final score: Harvard 2, George Mason 1 in three overtimes.

"They played with a lot of heart and a lot of spirit," said Harvard Coach Tim Wheaton about his players. "The kids were inspired. We can give anybody a game on any given day."

Miller's timely tap earned Harvard a trip to the Elite Eight and a date with the women's soccer dynasty known as the North Carolina Tar Heels (27-0-1, 7-0 ACC) in Chapel Hill. That is where, one week later, Harvard's run at a national title came to an end just two steps shy of the national championship game with a hard-fought, 1-0, loss to UNC. But the title of `champion' is one the Crimson most assuredly earned with its performance in that contest and throughout its memorable 1997 campaign.

In the end, it took what is arguably the most dominant team, male or female, in college athletics to derail the Harvard express. To call UNC a women's soccer powerhouse is an understatement. The Tar Heels have captured 15 of the 17 national championships that have been awarded in the history of women's soccer, including this year's crown. In their program's history, they have compiled a record of 417-16-11 and outscored their opponents by a modest tally of 2,005 to 196.

And they only beat Harvard 1-0. Point made.

"I thought Harvard played an absolutely outstanding match," said UNC Coach Anson Dorrance following his team's defeat of Harvard. "I want to compliment a tremendous Harvard team. Everyone, from their players to their coaching staff, had a good game plan. They played with character...and made a tremendous game of this quarterfinal."

Record: 13-4-2, 6-1 Ivy

Coach: Tim Wheaton

Highlights: Wins third straight Ivy title; reaches quarterfinals of NCAA Tournament; Naomi Miller named Ivy Player of the Year.

Seniors: Kristen Bowes, Rebe Glass, Keren Gudeman, Lindsay Minkus, Becky Vieira

No one could have guessed when the Crimson kicked off its 1997 campaign that, at year's end, it would take the best team in the history of women's college soccer to the limit in the NCAA Quarterfinals. Yes, Harvard came into the season as the two-time defending Ivy League champions--having only graduated two players--but two-time First Team All-American and Ivy Player of the Year Emily Stauffer was taking the fall semester off after donating bone marrow to her brother, who was suffering from leukemia.

"Emily is an outstanding player, but fortunately our team wasn't based around her," said captain Rebe Glass. "It wasn't all balancing on whether Emily had a good game or a bad game."

Stauffer's absence would no doubt be a tremendous distraction at best, an enormous loss at worst. And early in the season, it appeared that Harvard would indeed have to weather the storm of a lackluster season while it waited for its superstar to return.

Despite winning four of its first five games, Harvard struggled to find an offensive rhythm and had problems tallying goals. Three of its victories were 1-0 finals in which it failed to capitalize on numerous scoring chances. And following a disappointing 1-1 tie with cross-town rival Boston College, Harvard dropped its first Ivy contest of the year in heartbreaking fashion to Yale, falling 3-2 in overtime.

"Our talent, heart and desire were still there," said junior defender Brynne Zuccaro. "Although things hadn't gone our way, we felt we had complete control of our destiny."

With the loss to the Elis fresh in its memory, the Crimson embarked on a three-game stretch versus top-15 opponents in a five-day span that would test the team's true abilities. Harvard followed a respectable 1-1 tie with then-No. 11 George Mason by convincingly defeating the No. 14 Maryland Terrapins, 3-1.

But just when it appeared that Harvard hadfound its championship form of the past, a trip toNo. 9 Connecticut resulted in a 5-0 spanking thathad Harvard fans questioning the remainder of theseason.

The Crimson soon showed there was no cause forconcern. Harvard's disappointing loss to theHuskies served as a wake-up call, and the teamproceeded to close out its regular season with asix-game winning streak to capture its thirdconsecutive Ivy League championship and earn itsthird NCAA Tournament berth in four years.

"We started out a bit rough in the beginning ofthe season, but we definitely picked up momentum,"said freshman defender Brooke McCarthy.

A pair of 1-0 decisions over Penn andConnecticut were sandwiched between Harvard's twolargest Ivy offensive explosions, a 3-1 win atCornell and a 6-1 embarrassment of Princeton onOhiri Field.

One week after thrashing the Tigers, theCrimson claimed a share of the league title with a1-0 victory at Dartmouth, and seven days later,Harvard secured its third straight outright Ivycrown by downing Brown, 2-1. It was back to NCAAsfor the Crimson, and it was time for somelong-awaited payback.

Harvard faced UMass in the first round of theTournament for the third time in four years. In1994 the Minutewomen made quick work of theCrimson with a 3-0 win, and last year UMass hadwrenched Harvard's soul with a 2-1, tripleovertime victory. But 1997 would be different.

"It was awesome to play UMass because we feltlike last year's game didn't end up the way it wassupposed to," said sophomore defender Gina Foster."Also, when our team made it to the NCAAs [in1994], we also lost to UMass, so going into ithaving lost to them twice really pumped us up."

Behind the boisterous support of its homecrowd, Harvard left no doubt as to who was thebetter team. A pair of goals by Aeschliman, whobegan the season on the junior varsity squad, andspectacular defense from sophomore sweeper JessicaLarson and sophomore goalkeeper Anne Browning ledHarvard to the 2-0 win and into the second roundof the postseason tourney for the first time since1984.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Several Harvard players garnered individualaccolades following the season. In addition to herIvy Player of the Year honor, Miller was alsonamed to the All-Ivy First Team for the thirdstraight year. She led Harvard in goals (seven),assists (11) and points (25), and she was also theIvy League leader in assists.

Miller was joined on the All-Ivy First Team byFoster and junior midfielder Devon Bingham.Browning, Larson, captain Rebe Glass and sophomoreforward Beth Zotter were all Second-Team All-Ivyselections.

But Harvard's 1997 campaign will be rememberedfor the glory these players achieved as a unit.They proved they had the talent to win and to gofurther than anyone believed they could, and theydemonstrated the heart of those who, win or lose,always leave the field as champions.CrimsonDavid S. TangJunior Naomi Miller was named Ivy LeaguePlayer of the Year.

But just when it appeared that Harvard hadfound its championship form of the past, a trip toNo. 9 Connecticut resulted in a 5-0 spanking thathad Harvard fans questioning the remainder of theseason.

The Crimson soon showed there was no cause forconcern. Harvard's disappointing loss to theHuskies served as a wake-up call, and the teamproceeded to close out its regular season with asix-game winning streak to capture its thirdconsecutive Ivy League championship and earn itsthird NCAA Tournament berth in four years.

"We started out a bit rough in the beginning ofthe season, but we definitely picked up momentum,"said freshman defender Brooke McCarthy.

A pair of 1-0 decisions over Penn andConnecticut were sandwiched between Harvard's twolargest Ivy offensive explosions, a 3-1 win atCornell and a 6-1 embarrassment of Princeton onOhiri Field.

One week after thrashing the Tigers, theCrimson claimed a share of the league title with a1-0 victory at Dartmouth, and seven days later,Harvard secured its third straight outright Ivycrown by downing Brown, 2-1. It was back to NCAAsfor the Crimson, and it was time for somelong-awaited payback.

Harvard faced UMass in the first round of theTournament for the third time in four years. In1994 the Minutewomen made quick work of theCrimson with a 3-0 win, and last year UMass hadwrenched Harvard's soul with a 2-1, tripleovertime victory. But 1997 would be different.

"It was awesome to play UMass because we feltlike last year's game didn't end up the way it wassupposed to," said sophomore defender Gina Foster."Also, when our team made it to the NCAAs [in1994], we also lost to UMass, so going into ithaving lost to them twice really pumped us up."

Behind the boisterous support of its homecrowd, Harvard left no doubt as to who was thebetter team. A pair of goals by Aeschliman, whobegan the season on the junior varsity squad, andspectacular defense from sophomore sweeper JessicaLarson and sophomore goalkeeper Anne Browning ledHarvard to the 2-0 win and into the second roundof the postseason tourney for the first time since1984.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Several Harvard players garnered individualaccolades following the season. In addition to herIvy Player of the Year honor, Miller was alsonamed to the All-Ivy First Team for the thirdstraight year. She led Harvard in goals (seven),assists (11) and points (25), and she was also theIvy League leader in assists.

Miller was joined on the All-Ivy First Team byFoster and junior midfielder Devon Bingham.Browning, Larson, captain Rebe Glass and sophomoreforward Beth Zotter were all Second-Team All-Ivyselections.

But Harvard's 1997 campaign will be rememberedfor the glory these players achieved as a unit.They proved they had the talent to win and to gofurther than anyone believed they could, and theydemonstrated the heart of those who, win or lose,always leave the field as champions.CrimsonDavid S. TangJunior Naomi Miller was named Ivy LeaguePlayer of the Year.