TEAM OF THE YEAR: Dramatic Victory Seals Ivy League Championship

It was the first Ivy League game of the season, and the Harvard women’s soccer team was rolling with a six-game unbeaten streak, including a 1-1 tie against then-No. 12 Boston College. After having played a grueling nine games in 22 days, the Crimson players were optimistic about their ability to succeed. But with missed shots—including a close attempt from freshman Melanie Baskind that deflected off the crossbar—and Penn finding the net once in each half, the Harvard team emerged from the game in a completely different mood.

“It was our first Ivy League game, and we lost it,” junior Christina Hagner said. “After that game, we got together because people’s heads were down, worrying, ‘What does this mean for the season?’”

Seven wins and one tie later, the Crimson’s worries had disappeared. Playing against Columbia in the season finale on Nov. 8, junior defenseman Lizzy Nichols scored on a penalty kick with nine seconds left on the clock in double overtime to give Harvard a 2-1 win and clinch the Ivy League title—and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament that comes with it.

“It’s kind of amazing,” junior goaltender Lauren Mann said. “[Winning an] Ivy League championship is something that every Ivy League team strives to do, so the fact that we did it, it was a great day.”

What was the secret to such success? According to Harvard head coach Ray Leone, who in his two years at the helm has led the Crimson to as many 10-win seasons, it’s that the team had fun.

“I think what they took out of it is that when they truly play for fun and compete as hard as they can, they can really accomplish anything,” he said. “When they just think of the result, they don’t do as well—like when we played Penn. In some respects, [after the Penn game] the pressure was off, and we just quietly made our journey to the top.”

A month after the disappointment in Pennsylvania, the team proved its coach was right on an away trip to Princeton.

“Our game against Princeton was ridiculous,” Hagner said. “The game was delayed because of lightning, and halfway through, there was a torrential downpour. We had to leave the field, but in the locker room the excitement and energy to go out and play was unreal. It speaks to the character of this team and how we just love playing the game and playing with each other.”

Harvard eventually won the game, 2-1.

“The team in the locker room was kind of insane,” Mann said. “We were very fired up. Everyone just wanted to get back on the field and continue playing and continue winning.”

This formula of having fun while winning developed thanks to the leadership of the seniors.

“To win the Ivy League Championship, you have to be quite resilient,” Leone said. “For us to have our seniors go from the experience of winning three games in their sophomore year to winning the Ivy League Championship their senior year, it just doesn’t get any better than that.”

It was one of these seniors, in fact, who helped turn the team around after the tough loss at Penn.

“One of our seniors, Rachael Lau, pulled us together and said, ‘Guys, wipe that look of doubt off your face. We can do this,’” Hagner said. “I don’t think we lost after that point until Northeastern [in the NCAA tournament].”

Finishing with a 10-3-5 record, 5-1-1 in the Ancient Eight, the Harvard women’s soccer team ended the year on top. The focus now is on maintaining that position next year.

“The major thing is how do you handle success?” Leone said. “Now we are the marked one, and it’s much easier to be the chaser. We are talented enough to do it, so I just need to remind our team, and they need to remind each other, that what got us there was incredible, incredible determination, and I hope we can get that again.”

—Staff writer Alex Sopko can be reached at sopko@fas.harvard.edu.