Harvard Teams Kick Off Season

Men Top Stony Brook; Women Draw Even With SDSU

Sept. 5, 2009

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Andre Akpan, Harvard�s all-time leading scorer, became the first Crimson player to reach the century mark in points as he tallied two goals and handed out an assist to guide the Harvard men�s soccer team to a 4-1 victory over Stony Brook in its season opener Friday afternoon at Ohiri Field.

Desmond Mitchell and Brian Rogers also tallied goals for Harvard, while Austin Harms made six saves for his first win of the year.

Stony Brook (0-2) struck first as Berian Gobeil buried a shot from 20 yards on out left corner of the box at 27:35. James Palumbo was credited with an assist on the play after chipping the ball through a few Crimson defenders as the Seawolves went ahead, 1-0.

Less than seven minutes later, a duo of Harvard freshmen helped the Crimson knot the game. Rookie Scott Prozeller played the ball through midfield and split two defenders with a pass ahead to classmate Brian Rogers. Rogers dribbled the ball into the box and booted it into the upper left corner of the goal, tying the score, 1-1, at 34:08.

Moments later, Harvard had another quality chance when Akpan and Alex Chi played quick passes to Rogers, but his shot was blocked by the Stony Brook defense in front of the cage.

Less than five minutes into the second half, Chi was pulled down just in front of the Stony Brook box, creating a free kick opportunity for the Crimson. Akpan took the ensuing free kick and shot the ball to the right of a leaping Anthony Rogic for the Crimson�s second score of the afternoon.

Akpan struck again at 57:01 as he headed a cross pass from Robert Millock into the bottom right portion of the cage. In the process, Akpan surpassed the 100-point mark for his career. At 72:30, Akpan earned his first assist of the year as he moved the ball ahead to Mitchell, who chipped the ball over Rogic and over the goal line for Harvard�s third goal of the half.

Akpan now has 37 goals and 28 assists for 102 points in a Harvard uniform.

Harvard is next in action Monday afternoon as the team travels to face Boston College in Newton, Mass. The game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.

The Harvard women opened its 2009 season by earning a 1-1 tie against non-conference opponent San Diego State Friday afternoon. In her first career game, Caroline Albanese tallied the Harvard goal, while Lauren Mann made four saves between the pipes.

On a sunny day at Ohiri Field, the Crimson and Aztecs managed few offensive opportunities in the first half, as both teams played solid defensively. San Diego State managed the first shot at 18:34 when Megan Jurado picked up a loose ball in front and bounced it at Mann, who covered up and cleared.

Midway through the frame, Katherine Sheeleigh almost put Harvard on top, but her shot from the right side of the goal was blocked by Aubree Southwick, who finished the first half with two saves.

In the 40th minute, San Diego State (2-2-1) controlled the ball in the Harvard zone and Gretel Amman sneaked a shot through several defenders, but Mann was there to snare the trickling attempt.

In the opening moments of the second half, Harvard grabbed a 1-0 lead on Albanese�s strike at 46:22. Sheeleigh, controlling the ball at midfield, passed it down the right side to Albanese. The freshman dribbled in alone into the box and sneaked a shot into the near post behind a diving Southwick.

With 30 minutes to play, San Diego State capitalized directly off a corner kick when Allie Crowson headed Jessica Gordon�s kick into the goal, tying the score 1-1. Less than 10 minutes later, Harvard�s Lizzy Nichols fired a free kick from 40 yards out, forcing Southwick to leap to prevent the Crimson�s second score.

In the final seconds of regulation, the Aztecs earned a free lick on the left side. When the ball neared the box, Millie Allen got a shot off, but the ball hit off the post with two seconds left, forcing overtime.

Melanie Baskind earned the first shot in overtime at 90:37, but Southwick grabbed the bouncer and cleared away. Patricia followed with a similar attempt at 94:18, but the Crimson could not find the back of the net for the golden goal. With 5:25 left in double overtime, San Diego State�s Cat Walker blasted a shot from just inside the box that rang off the left post, allowing the Crimson to clear.

Up next, Harvard visits Connecticut Saturday afternoon, looking for its first win of the season. The Crimson and Huskies will meet in Storrs, Conn., at 5:30 p.m.

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