By JASPER FU
This weekend two games between Harvard and Yale both ended in Crimson victories. Harvard’s own Jordan Field hosted two home games, both men’s and women’s soccer. The men’s team won its second game in a row after a 2-1 OT victory against Boston University, after a string of 4 consecutive defeats. The Crimson’s 1-0 shutout victory came after a tough game that saw Yale holding possession for most of the day. After the first half, however, Harvard started to pick up momentum as the Crimson team started to pick up the ball, sending two quick shots on the goal in the beginning of the first half in a marker that the game would soon begin to go Harvard’s way. Just 15 minutes into the second half, Harvard’s Alfred Perez (’22) scored the first – and only – point of Saturday’s game. Although Yale almost scored a point in the 88th minute, saved only and barely by Harvard’s goalie from what would have been a fierce overtime game. This game marked Harvard’s first Ivy League game of the season, starting the conference year off strong before a game against Cornell on the 6th, Brown on the 13th, and Princeton on the 20th.
Harvard’s women’s team scored an impressive victory as well, hot on the heels of the men’s team with a strong 1-0 showing against Yale. Though Yale had won its past four games, the Bulldogs had lost their only previous Ivy League game, against defending conference champions Princeton, and the Crimson victory gave the Elis an 0 – 2 Ivy record. Although Yale is doing slightly better overall, with a 5-4-1 record to the Crimson’s 4-4-1, Harvard is still 1-0 in the Ivy League with one draw. Its next conference games, like the men’s team, are against Cornell, Brown, and Princeton, on the 6th, 13th, and 20th, respectively.
Jasper Fu (jasperfu@college.harvard.edu) is excited for the future of Harvard Soccer.