SPORTS BRIEF: Harvard set to face off against crosstown rival Northeastern in NCAAs

After winning the Ivy title last Saturday with an astounding double-overtime victory over defending champion Columbia, the Crimson is now set to take the next step: compete in the regionals of the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

Harvard (10-3-4, 5-1-1 Ivy) will play Northeastern (13-8-1) in the first round in Chesnut Hill, Mass. on Friday. The game starts at 7 p.m.

The Crimson will be riding an eight-game unbeaten streak into the match. Paced by a tremendous group of goal-scorers atop and a dynamic duo of goaltenders in juniors Lauren Mann and Laura Dale, the team is poised to advance and face the winner of the other regional match pitting host Boston College against Central Connecticut State.

But Northeastern will test the Crimson. In their last matchup on Sept. 17 this year, the Huskies took the Crimson to overtime, but Harvard pulled out the win, 2-1. This time around, Northeastern is coming in hot after taking the CAA Championship in dramatic fashion. The Huskies earned a 1-0 double-overtime victory over Hofstra in the final.

This is the first-ever NCAA appearance for the Northeastern women’s program. Harvard has not made the end-of-season championship since 2004, when it lost to Connecticut 2-0 in the first round.

If the squad advances, it will likely face Boston College, who it tied 1-1 earlier this season.

—THE CRIMSON STAFF