Harvard Shuts Out New Hampshire

Sheeleigh Nets Game Winner; Dale Gets First Win

September 11, 2008

DURHAM, N.H. – Laura Dale made nine saves for her first career victory and shutout to lead the Harvard women’s soccer team past host New Hampshire, 1-0, in a non-conference matchup at Bremner Field Wednesday evening.

After struggling to find its scoring touch during the first two games of the year, the Crimson offense registered 19 shots, including the fourth game-winning goal of Katherine Sheeleigh’s career.

Erin Wylie and Melanie Baskind each fired two shots in the opening 19 minutes, while Dale made six saves by the 29th minute to keep the game scoreless.

After consecutive shots by the Wildcats on Dale later in the half, Harvard (1-2-0) grabbed possession and moved the ball down the field. Katherine Kuzma recorded her first career assist as she found Sheeleigh, the 2007 Ivy League Rookie of the Year, for a goal at 33:39. Sheeleigh took the pass and kicked the ball into the lower right corner out the net from 15 yards out.

The Crimson kept the pressure on for the remainder of the half as Sheeleigh nearly missed her second goal on a shot that hit the cross bar, and a header by Nicole Rhodes was grabbed by New Hampshire goalkeeper Ally Yost. Baskind had three shots in the final 4:23 of the first, but two were saved by Yost, and the other went high of the net.

In the second, New Hampshire (1-4-1) managed two early shots on Dale, but the junior goalkeeper came up strong and kept the Wildcats off the scoreboard. New Hampshire earned back-to-back corner kicks in the 73rd minute, but once again, Dale and the Crimson defense stood tall. Dale pulled in a shot by New Hamsphire’s Caitlin Whelan, while another attempt by Sara Hourihan went wide.

With just over 10 minutes to play, Harvard’s offense kept the ball in the New Hampshire zone forcing four shots and earning one corner kick before time expired.

Baskind had a total of seven shots for the game, including five in the first half, while Sheeleigh and Wylie each had four shots. Harvard led in corner kicks, 5-3.

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