Year in Sports 2011
WOMEN'S SWIMMING: Crimson Cannot Find Way to Top Tigers, Finishes Second
Despite falling short of reclaiming the Ivy League Championship title from Ancient Eight rival Princeton, the Harvard women’s swimming and diving team still finished the winter with a successful season.
FOOTBALL: Injuries Hinder Crimson’s Success
Even without an Ivy League title, Harvard football and its seniors still made program history.
MEN'S SWIMMING: Unbeaten in Regular Season, Harvard Falls in Ivies
After completing an undefeated regular season, including a clean sweep in the HYP meet, the Harvard men’s swimming and diving team fell short at the Ivy League Championship, finishing second to Princeton.
SKIING: Middling Results Characterize Year
Depending on how you look at it, the Harvard ski team’s 2010-2011 season was either mediocre or wildly successful.
PARTING SHOT: Writer Inspired by Unlikely Moments
You would think that after nearly 250 Crimson articles over the last four years, banging out one last column would be a breeze. But when I sat down at my computer, I found myself, for nearly the first time, at a loss for words.
SAILING: Co-eds, Women Qualify for Nationals
The co-ed and women’s squads of the Harvard sailing team have enjoyed tremendous success this past spring, both finishing the season ranked in the top ten nationally. As the season quickly winds down, both hope to add one more victory to their already-impressive resumes. in the coming weeks.
MALE BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP: Ortiz Neutralizes Ivy Offenses, Linemen
To an outsider, Josue Ortiz became one of the most important defensive players in Ivy League football in 2010, and one of the best. But his teammates have a simpler understanding of the senior defensive tackle.
FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP: Nadler has Strong First Year Despite Setbacks
In her first two weekends of skiing, Rebecca Nadler established herself as one of the best skiers in the nation and arguably the greatest alpine skier Harvard has ever had.
WOMEN'S SOCCER: Tight Losses Spoil Title Hopes
Dreams of an Ivy title three-peat were denied as the Harvard women’s soccer team (9-7-1, 4-3 Ivy) finished the 2010 season in fourth place, a disappointment in comparison to the team’s consecutive championships the past two seasons.
MEN'S SOCCER: Crimson Falters Late in Year
Harvard began its fall season with a win over then-No. 13 Stanford and ended its schedule with a victory over then-No. 18 Penn. In between, the Crimson struggled to convert its close matches into wins, finishing 5-7-5 overall and 2-3-2 in the Ivy League to tie for fifth in the Ancient Eight. But these bookend wins speak better to the spirit of the season, in which Harvard grew as a squad and competed with some of the best teams in the nation.
Playing Two Sports Poses Tough Test
Trying to balance the demands of a Division I college sports team and a top-tier academic university can understandably become difficult. But some individuals take this time-crunch to a whole new level by participating in not just one, but two varsity sports—and often excelling at both.
SOFTBALL: Crimson Avenges 2010 Loss in ILCS
Revenge is sweet. Taking the Ivy League championship and going to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007 and the fifth time in school history makes it that much better.
WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Midseason Surge Leads Crimson to ECAC Semis
Though the Harvard women’s hockey team (17-11-4, 14-5-3 ECAC) got off to a slow, 5-6-3 start this season, the team came back rejuvenated after winter break just in time to turn things around.
COACH OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP: Coach Plays Integral Role in Title
Behind every great team is a great coach. Jenny Allard is that coach for the Crimson, and has been for 17 seasons, making her the Ivy League’s longest-tenured softball coach.
TEAM OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP: Harvard Wins the Ivy League
After sweeping the Ivy League Championship Series against Cornell, the Harvard softball team (36-16, 18-2 Ivy) earned a spot in the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in team history.
FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP: Lange Leads Crimson In Rookie Campaign
The Ivy League Rookie of the Year hit .444 with 11 home runs and 65 RBI, which ranked her second, second, and first in the Ivy League, respectively. She led the team in all three categories.
COMEBACK GAME OF THE YEAR: Late Goals Save Crimson
Down 3-0 to Northeastern midway through the second period of the Beanpot semifinals on Feb. 8, it seemed that the Harvard women’s hockey team would suffer its second Beanpot semifinal loss ever and its first since 2007.
BASEBALL: Troubled Harvard Strikes Out
But despite strengths in its lineup and a change in NCAA bat regulations that favored the Crimson’s hitting style, scoring ruts and inconsistencies plagued Harvard throughout the year.
MEN'S LACROSSE: Strong Offense Puts Harvard on Brink of Ivy Crown
The 2011 season was filled with a myriad of highs and lows for Harvard men’s lacrosse.
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Perlman Overcomes Elbow Injury
In 2009, after throwing 55 innings in the Cape Cod League over the summer, Max Perlman returned to Harvard with his repaired elbow well-tested. He was ready to retake his spot atop the Crimson’s rotation as the team’s ace.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE: Tight Finals Loss Ends Ivy Title Hopes
Playing in the first round of the Ivy League tournament on May 6, the Crimson (10-6, 5-2 Ivy) was set to square off against No. 10 Dartmouth—a squad that dealt Harvard a 14-7 loss to in its regular season finale just one week prior.
FEMALE BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP: Focus on Teammates Gives Sophomore Chance to Excel
When opponents focused on defending sophomore attacker Jennifer VanderMeulen, who has led the Ivy League in goals for two consecutive seasons, an opportunity opened up for her teammates to shine. And sophomore midfielder Danielle Tetreault seized the chance to put up some results.
TEAM OF THE YEAR: First-time Champions
It was a season to remember for Harvard, which won a program-best 23 games and set school records for conference victories with 12 and home wins with 14—in 14 contests.
MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP: Rivard Shines as Sixth Man, Sharpshooter
The Eagles had cut the Crimson’s 11-point lead to five in less than two minutes, and momentum was swinging away from the visiting Harvard squad. That’s when rookie Laurent Rivard stepped up.
WOMEN'S TENNIS: Doubles Trouble Crushes Crimson Tournament Hopes
The sharp upward rise of the Harvard women’s tennis team took a dip this year. Finishing 9-9 overall (4-3 Ivy) and without an NCAA berth, the squad feels as if it underachieved.
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