Women's Soccer Looks for Revenge, Again

As the failed resurgence of the geri curl has shown to the world, it’s important to learn from history’s mistakes. And considering the past between the Harvard women’s soccer team and UConn, both squads would be well served if they heeded such advice if either hopes to advance any farther in this year’s NCAA tournament.

The Crimson (8-6-2) will face the Huskies (16-6-1) this afternoon at Marrone Field in the first round of the postseason in a game that both teams will be calling a revenge match.

Just 16 days ago, then-No. 24 UConn lost to Harvard 1-0 at Ohiri Field on a late second-half goal from freshman Megan Merritt, relegating the team back to non-ranked status.

Ever since then, however, the Huskies have been crying foul play over the decision.

“They were making a claim that the goal wasn’t legit,” said senior midfielder Alisha Moran. “And their coach was really upset about the goal. He thought Megan was offsides.”

Meanwhile, the Crimson looks to exact a bit of revenge against the Huskies from the 2001 tournament, in which UConn beat Harvard 1-0 in the second round to end its playoff hopes.

But the Crimson seems to be a bit more upset about a game that the Huskies didn’t actually play.

“We have a bone to pick with them when last year, they ruined any chance that we had in the end to make the tournament,” Moran said.

Harvard had been scheduled to face the Huskies at the end of both teams’ seasons last year, but a flooded field forced a cancellation of the face-off. Had the Crimson been able to play and defeat the highly-ranked UConn team, its chances for a postseason bid would have been much more likely. As it was though, the game was not rescheduled, and making the upset impossible.

“They wouldn’t play us at the end of the day, and we didn’t make the NCAA’s,” co-captain midfielder Falyne Chave said. “So we’re definitely bitter about it for sure.”

Couple last year’s no show with the 2001 NCAA Tournament, and the Crimson has a lot to prove, especially seniors Emily Colvin, Liza Barber, Moran and Chave, the only players still around from the last tournament team.

“It was really disappointing, and that stuck with the seniors,” Chave said. “I think we’re really fired up because of the history we’ve had with UConn.”

THE UNDERDOGS

If experience is a factor, then Harvard has a lot to overcome. The Crimson is 8-9 all-time in the NCAA tournament, with this year marking its 10th appearance overall and its first since 2001.

On the other hand, the Huskies are playing in their 23rd consecutive NCAA Tournament. UConn is one of only two schools to be invited to play in every Division I Tournament since its inception in 1982. The other school is North Carolina, who has won the championship 17 times.

The Huskies lost to the Tar Heels 6-0 in the 2003 championship game, and is returning 19 players from last year’s team.

But in this year’s tourney, neither UConn nor Harvard is seeded in the top 16. The Huskies’ record did help earn them the home field advantage in the first round. The winner of today’s game will play at Marrone Field again on Sunday against the winner of No. 13 Arizona (15-5-0) and Colgate (12-6-2).

This season, UConn only went 8-4 at home, not surprising considering it’s tough home schedule.

“Their fans aren’t particularly nice, so it’s going to be really intense,” Moran said.

Three of the Huskies’ home losses came to No. 2 Penn State, No. 4 Notre Dame and No. 5 Portland. The only other home loss was a double overtime decision to Boston College, who also qualified for the tournament.

Since September, UConn has won five straight at home, making Marrone Field an intimidating place for the visiting team.

“The field is gorgeous, which is a plus,” Chave said. “But it’s going to be intense because it’s at home, it’s early and it’s a Friday night.”

The Huskies are also riding a winning streak tracing back to September whose only blemish was the loss to the Crimson two weeks ago.

A HELPING HAND FROM THE ENEMY

Considering its league play, it appears that the encounter earlier in the year greatly enhanced Harvard’s prospects to get into the tournament. After losses to Penn and Princeton and with no wins against ranked teams early in the season, the Crimson’s chances at an at-large bid did not look good.

“I can’t even explain the sentiment in the room when we found out,” Moran said. “As much as we believed, there was still a huge element of surprise which made it super exciting.”

And if the Crimson plays any games after today, it will again again be thanks to a win over UConn.

“I don’t know how to explain the feeling,” Chave said. “It’s one of excitement to be able to play them again because we beat them once this year and we know we can do it again.”

—Staff writer Carrie H. Petri can be reached at cpetri@fas.harvard.edu.