Crimson Falls Short Against No. 10 UConn, 2-1

Good teams win the games they should. Great teams find a way to win the games they shouldn't.

On Jordan field yesterday, the Harvard women's field hockey team was looking for a way to prove it could win against the best.

The Crimson's hopes for an upset were left unfuilled, however, as No. 7 UConn (7-2) proved it was just good enough to down Harvard (4-1, 1-0 Ivy), 2-1, in a close match.

"It was definitely tough to come away with a loss after this game," freshman midfielder Jen Ahn said. "We played well, fought hard, and played a straight up kind of game."

With 4:37 remaining in the game and the scored tied, 1-1, UConn senior Katie Stephens scored on a penalty corner with a perfectly placed shot to the far right-hand corner of the net.

"Penalty corners are easily the best way to score," Ahn said. "Are goaltending's been great. She's a smart aggressive player but you can't expect her to stop every corner."

Less than a minute later though, it looked as if the Crimson had found a way to tie the game.

Sophomore forward Philomena Gambale knocked a pass from freshman Kate McDavitt out of the air and into the net after a great individual effort from McDavitt set up the play.

The play was immediately ruled dead, however, after the referee determined the goal was scored after Gambale redirected the pass with a high-stick above her waist.

"It was really frusturating to have Philomena's goal called back," Ahn said. "If didn't get the goal we should have definitely had a penalty. The other team lifted the ball in the air but you can't dwell on it. We still had time and plenty of opportunities."

Despite being outplayed, outshot, and outchanced, Harvard refused to be outworked.

Although UConn was the clear favorite heading into the game, Harvard had the Huskies worried.

"They were definitely getting frustrated out there on the field," Ahn said. "We played really strong and tough against them."

After the Huskies took the lead on another penalty corner early in the first half, Harvard didn't take long to put the Huskies back on their haunches.

Just a little over five minutes after the Huskies initial strike, McDavitt split the defense and put a bouncing shot under the outstretched arm of UConn goaltender Alana Linick to knot the game at one a piece.

Ahn picked up an assist on the play and would have had an assist on Gambale's goal had it not been called back.

McDavitt leads the team in points with five goals and an assist, while Gambale is second with five goals.

Freshman goaltender Katie Zacarian once again was stellar in net and could hardly be blamed for the two goals scored on penalty corners.

UConn played most of the game in the Harvard end, but a desperate defense and a great goaltender largely prevented what could have been a blowout.

The Huskies were clearly the more talented team. They played a great possession game, controlled the tempo, and had the Crimson backed up in its own zone most of the game.

The Crimson refused to wilt though under the pressure and exploded for several dangerous offensive rushes downfield.

Senior forward Kate Nagle had a wide open shot after colliding with the goalie well out of the net on a rush at the 20:00 minute mark, but she could not control the ball in time to put an accurate shot on goal.

Freshman forward Mina Pell had a similar chance to pull the Crimson ahead with 13 minutes remaining.

After UConn senior Sara Sartori mishandled the ball, Pell walked in all alone, but the ball rolled just too far. Out of her rhythm, all Pell could manage was a bad angled shot from close in that sailed wide.

Depsite being outclassed, Harvard had its chances to win. Given another day, the Crimson could have easily won this game.

Harvard will have other chances to prove it can win the tough games in the next seven days, as the team visits defending Ivy champs Brown on Sunday before playing host to No. 10 UMass next Wednesday.

With the way this team is playing, look for the Crimson to take at least one of those next two games.