Defense Holds Against Ranked Local Foe

The No. 12 Boston College Eagles (6-1-1) overpowered the Harvard women’s soccer team on Friday, but the Crimson (3-2-2) snuck away with a 1-1 draw.

The tie was a victory in itself. The talented Boston College squad recorded 31 shots to Harvard’s three.

“I think the game was just a great test of will on our part,” Crimson coach Ray Leone said. “BC dominated the second half and overtime. It proved we could defend a great team.”

The Harvard defense played exceptionally well and fought off Eagle attacks by staying compact and forcing non-threatening attempts on goal. Junior keeper Lauren Mann made 11 saves.

Freshman Melanie Baskind got the Crimson on the board first in the 10th minute. After a good string of possessions, she received a pass from co-captain Nicole Rhodes, made a quick turn, raced down the flank, and struck the ball into the corner of the net with her left foot.

Baskind leads Harvard with three goals and eight points this season.

After the goal, Boston College controlled the tempo and maintained almost all of the possession for the rest of the game.

“It would be good if we got more possession,” Mann said. “[The Eagles] were just throwing players up, so it was hard to keep the ball.”

Leone agreed with his goalkeeper.

“We need to possess the whole game,” he said. “We started out the game trying to keep the ball, but we didn’t [keep the ball] in the second. We need to make that a point of emphasis.”

In the first half, Boston College hit the crossbar once and then had two more opportunities before halftime. Still down a goal in the second frame, the Eagles started pushing more attackers up front. The squad outshot the Crimson 19-0 in the second half.

Ten minutes away from victory, Harvard gave up a corner, and on the ensuing cross, Boston College’s Kelly Henderson scored on a header.

With one minute remaining, the Eagles almost grabbed the win when another shot deflected off the post. In overtime, neither team could notch the game-winner and the contest ended without a victor.

Although the Crimson gave up a late goal, Leone was very proud of his team’s performance.

“The team effort was amazing,” he said. “They were just very plugged in together. Of course [Mann] played well and the 10 in front of her did everything they could to keep the ball out of the net.”

Since opening the season with two losses, Harvard has been rolling. The team is unbeaten in its last five contests.

“After getting back from California, we’ve developed some good momentum, and that continued [against Boston College],” Rhodes said. “I think it was a great game for us.”

The Crimson has been developing a defensive identity this preseason. Attackers are getting behind the ball and defenders are keeping shape around the box. Other than the first contest of the season, Harvard has not allowed any of its opponents to score more than a single goal.

“We have a lot of attackers, but defending is the number one priority,” Leone said. “I don’t know if that identity has quite been discovered yet, but [Friday] was a great start.”

Tomorrow the Crimson travels to Fairfield for its last game before opening Ivy League play at Penn on Sept. 27.

—Staff writer Jake I. Fisher can be reached at jifisher@fas.harvard.edu.