Women's Soccer Beats Terriers 2-0

BOSTON—The Harvard women’s soccer team travelled a bit farther south on the Charles last night, facing and defeating BU on Nickerson field, which also serves as home turf for Boston’s professional soccer team, the Breakers.

The 2-0 victory extends the Crimson’s shutout streak to four games, and win streak to three.

The game-winning goal for Harvard (5-4-1, 2-0-1 Ivy) came in the 42nd minute of play. Senior forward Joey Yenne provided the assist for All-American junior midfielder Katie Westfall. Westfall’s shot dropped in the top right corner of the net, barely sneaking by the outstretched arms of BU’s senior goaltender Jessica Clinton.

Yenne, the Crimson’s leading point and goal scorer on the season, was not done adding to her season tallies. She scored Harvard’s second goal in the closing seconds of the match on a great individual effort. Her sharp angled shot was taken on the left side of the goal and beat the diving Clinton to the wide side of the net.

“I feel good about my individual performance,” Yenne said.

Though the Crimson dominated the majority of the game, outshooting the Terriers 17-12 on the night, BU (4-8-1) made a strong offensive push in the later part of the night, forcing freshman goalie Maja Agustsdottir to make three brilliant saves in the second half.

BU’s biggest opportunity came in the 67th minute of the game, when a forward had an open shot from six yards out, but her shot hit the crossbar, and sailed harmlessly out of the penalty box.

“We played a bit too conservative [in the second half],” coach Tim Wheaton said. “It’s the nature of the game to sit back when you have a lead, but you need to keep attacking.”

Despite Harvard’s lackluster defensive performance in the later part of the second half, it’s been anything but lukewarm in recent games, shutting out four consecutive teams, including Ivy powerhouse Penn.

“The shutouts have been unbelievable,” Yenne said.

Though the Crimson’s defense gives opponents many free kick opportunities, including eight corners to BU, it makes sure that the ball does not find the back of the net. The dominating play of juniors Lauren Cozzolino and classmate Caitlin Fisher has been a force in Harvard’s standout defense. Cozzolino, who received a yellow card near the end of last night’s game, is particularly well-known for her physical style of play, as Wheaton noted.

Besides the defensive play, Wheaton was also pleased by his team’s ability to adapt to a new environment. Harvard pulled off a victory, despite traveling to another school, play on a new surface in frigid temperatures, all on a weekday night.

The Crimson hosts Yale (7-2-1, 2-1) this Saturday at 11 am. The Elis recently suffered a tough double-overtime loss to Dartmouth on Sunday.

“We’re very excited about Yale,” said Wheaton. “All Ivy games are crucial.”

After this weekend, Harvard’s next match is at No. 17 Princeton (11-0, 3-0) next Saturday. Princeton is the only Division I team to have won all of its game so far this season, and is atop the Ivy league. Despite this critical game, the Crimson are more focused on this weekend’s match.

“We’re not thinking about Princeton right now,” Agustsdottir said. “We need to take care of Yale before we can focus on them.”