Harvard Women’s Soccer Takes Down Princeton 2-0

Harvard women’s soccer (3-4-2, 1-1-0 Ivy) recorded an impressive win against Princeton (2-4-3, 1-1-0) to start Ivy League play. The matchup between the two conference foes ended with the Crimson dominating the Tigers 2-0.

On a beautiful Saturday morning, in its 46th matchup, the two storied Ivy soccer programs met on the pitch for yet another marquee rivalry match. Princeton entered confidently against the Crimson with two consecutive victories — including last year’s Ivy League semi-finals while Harvard carried the torment of its recent defeats and the determination to change the narrative. The Crimson drew added inspiration from spirited alumni in attendance for the weekend, providing an extra spark against the opponents that awaited them.

Princeton opened the Ivy League season on a high note with a tough road win over Penn in the previous week. Harvard, meanwhile, entered the match wanting to rebound after a disappointing loss to Dartmouth in the Ivy League opener, raising the stakes for pivotal game.

The match began with a furious pace, with the physicality apparent. The ball moved quickly, back and forth across the pitch. Each team attempted to execute its scheme of earning early sights on the goal. Six minutes into the game, Harvard appeared to have the breakthrough in the front field with junior forward Ólöf Kristinsdóttir shooting towards the goal, only to find the hands of the Princeton goalkeeper.

Kristinsdóttir would not be denied the second time around. With just under 30 minutes remaining in the first half, senior forward Audrey Francois swiftly moved up the left side of the field, gaining a one-on-one opportunity with a Tiger defender. Francois proceeded to make two sweeps over the ball and jabbed left, just enough to move the Princeton defender aside and find a window to cross the ball into the box.

“I love the 1v1 matchups and getting in the positions where I can use the moves that have become second nature. I am confident I can win those matchups,” Fracois said. “This time it was just about creating enough separation to serve the box for Ólöf and Elsa to finish the rest.”

Francois’s ball found the foot of freshman midfielder Elsa Santos López who tapped the ball towards the goal for Kristinsdóttir. For a split second, the ball was in no man’s land, creating a race between a Tiger defender, goalkeeper, and Kristinsdóttir. Right before Princeton’s keeper could slide to grab the ball, Kristinsdóttir kicked the ball into the goal for Harvard’s first goal of the game. The Crimson took an early 1-0 lead.

From this moment, Harvard’s defense became a critical factor in the rest of the game, relentless in its attempt to make the Tigers’ offensive attack difficult. Harvard's defenders — led by senior August Hunter, junior Amy König, and junior Jasmine Leshnick — held Princeton to one shot on goal for the entire half. Harvard entered the half with a 1-0 lead.

“The key to winning the game defensively was winning our duels, staying physically aggressive and focusing on the details,” Leshnick said.

As the second half began, Princeton came out determined to not leave Camrbdige without a fight. Early in the half, the Tigers rushed up the right side of the field and crossed the ball into the box searching for an equalizer. The first shot by Princeton was blocked by Leshnick and sophomore forward Anna Rayhill who both slid in front of the ball to force the Tigers backwards. Once the Tigers retrieved the ball, Princeton attacked with another shot on goal, but Harvard senior goalkeeper Rhiannon Stewart jumped without outstretched arms, preventing the ball from piercing right under the goalpost into the top of the net. The score remained 1-0.

At the 60 minute mark of the game, the Crimson seized momentum again, pushing the ball up the field and into the box. The intensity remained in the game with Princeton desperately trying to prevent another goal. Fortunately, for the Crimson, Princeton’s overbearing physicality led to a penalty kick opportunity for Harvard. Kristinsdóttir stepped to the penalty spot for a second opportunity to score, peering at the ball and at the goal, and with an elite composure, smoothly kicked the ball into the right side of the goal as the Tigers’ goalkeeper dove in the opposite direction. Harvard stretched the lead to 2-0.

“It’s always a good feeling to score for your team, especially in such an important game with the alumni present but it was a team effort for the win,” Kristinsdóttir said.

Harvard remained unyielding in the final 25 minutes.Princeton continued to try and manifest shot opportunities, but the Crimson defense was a fortress turning away every Tiger surge. This performance by the defense allowed Harvard to avenge its recent losses and win its first game of Ivy League play with a 2-0 result.

Harvard will look back on this victory as a statement for its remaining Ivy League play. The offense was outstanding, led by Kristinsdóttir and a Harvard attack that put pressure on the Princeton defense. Harvard's disciplined defensive performance was exceptional as a collective group and will be instrumental heading into the coming weeks of Ivy League play.

The win over Princeton earned the Crimson three points in the league standings as it heads into a two-game road stretch in the next couple weeks. In the coming weeks, Harvard heads on the road to face Cornell on Oct. 4th and Yale on Oct. 12th before returning back home to Jordan Field.

– Staff writer Chandler Piggé can be reached at chandler.pigge@thecrimson.co