Harvard Falls to Local Rival Despite Early Lead

As the Harvard men’s soccer team learned last night, the momentum of a game can shift drastically in less than 20 minutes.

In its first home game at Soldiers Field Soccer/Lacrosse Stadium since returning from California on Monday, the Crimson (2-5-1) was unable to protect its early lead against crosstown rivals Boston University (3-5-0), falling 2-1 last night.

In the 65th minute of play, the Terriers took the lead over Harvard for the first time when BU freshman defender Taylor Washington netted the game-winning goal past junior goalkeeper Brett Conrad, after receiving a cross from fellow freshman defender James Holler.

“These are two teams that know each other really well personnel-wise and tactically, because we see each other play so often,” Junot said. “I thought we had a good game plan in the first half.”

The Crimson started off the game on the right foot, ending a three-game scoring drought with a tally in the 29th minute of play.

Junior forward Zack Wolfenzon headed a cross from sophomore defender Ross Friedman past the Terriers’ goalkeeper to give the Crimson the early lead, as the ball drifted just out of the reach of Terriers freshman Nick Thomson.

“It felt good to finally get a first half goal,” Wolfenzon said. “Ross played a great ball in and I got my head on it.”

Following its first goal, the Crimson continued to press deep into the BU backfield, looking to pull away from its opponent.

Although the home side was able to create numerous opportunities at goal late in the first half, it came up just short each time.

In the 36th minute of play, Harvard junior co-captain Scott Prozeller missed a chance to give the Crimson a two-goal lead as he sent a shot over the crossbar.

Less than five minutes later, co-captain Tim Linden also looked poised to put BU in a 2-0 hole, when he received a through ball on the right flank of the Terrier defense.

But Linden failed to deliver his shot on target as the ball streaked just wide of the goal.

Sophomore Kyle Henderson led the team with three shots, two of which were on net.

In the first half, the Crimson outshot BU 5-4.

But the team’s offensive dominance was short-lived, as the Terriers’ freshman midfielder Cameron Souri tallied the equalizer off a threaded pass from junior forward Nick Prunier less than five minutes before halftime.

“The first goal they scored was kind of a miscommunication on the defensive end,” junior forward Zack Wolfenzon said. “It really took the wind out of our sails going into halftime.”

In the second half, the BU offense exploited openings in a Harvard defense that committed 12 fouls in the contest.

Junior defender Richard Smith was yellow-carded in the 27th minute after knocking down a Terriers player while fighting for position after a corner kick.

Crimson senior midfielder Baba Omosegbon received a yellow card in the second half after fouling a BU player in pursuit of a ball at midfield.

The Terriers were also cautioned during the second half, as BU senior midfielder Peter Mehlert was given a yellow card a few minutes after Omosegbon.

Senior goalkeeper Austin Harms made three saves in the loss, but was replaced by Conrad in the second half.

“We have a strong goalkeeping spot in general, so I want both of those guys to be prepared,” Junot said.

Junot opted not to change the Crimson’s in-game strategy despite falling behind by a goal, focusing on fine-tuning the game plan that it will carry into Ivy League play.

“We put the emphasis on how we played the game more than on the result,” Junot said. “We wanted to see if we could further execute what we wanted to do.”

Despite the loss to its crosstown foe, Harvard remains confident about the start of Ivy League play. The Crimson travels to New Haven, Conn., to battle rival Yale this coming Saturday.

“No one likes to lose,” Wolfenzon said. “To look up there and see Guest 2, Harvard 1, I think it really puts a lot of fire in your stomach.”