Harvard Women: Ivy League Champs

Nichols's Late Penalty Against Columbia Sends Crimson to NCAA Tournament

Novemeber 9, 2008

Junior defender Lizzy Nichols scored on a penalty kick with nine seconds remaining in the second overtime against Columbia Saturday to lift the Harvard women’s soccer team to its first Ivy League championship since 1999.

With the 2-1 victory, the Crimson also earned the Ancient Eight’s automatic berth in the upcoming NCAA tournament, its first appearance since the 2004 campaign. Harvard finishes the regular season 10-3-4 and 5-1-1 in the Ivy League.

With time running out in the second extra session, the Crimson’s Melanie Baskind entered the box on a break, only to be tripped by a Lion defender. Nichols did not falter under the pressure, scoring the game-winning goal as the ball went into the back left corner of the cage for her second tally of the season.

“I stared at the ball before the kick, trying to keep my focus,” Nichols said. “All week we knew how big this game was. I’m really proud of our team. We were on a mission all season and I’m so happy the effort and hard work paid off.”

“My heart has never pounded so much,” Harvard head coach Ray Leone added. “This team did such a great job this year. From playing nine games in 22 days at the beginning to come all the way down the stretch and win today is such a great feeling. I couldn’t be any happier, especially for our five seniors.”

Columbia (11-4-2, 4-2-1) had the first chance at 3:40 when Ashley Mistele booted a bouncing ball at Harvard’s Lauren Mann, but the Crimson keeper grabbed it with two hands and cleared it to midfield. In the eighth minute, the Lions were called for a foul and Nichols took the ensuing free kick from just to the left of the box. Her kick curved to the right side and Gina Wideroff jumped and headed it on goal, but Rebecca Taylor made her first save on the day for the Lions.

The pressure continued, and it paid off in the 27th minute. After a Crimson corner kick, Kerry Kartsonis picked up the ball and had her shot blocked in front. Rachael Lau gained control and kicked the ball towards the net. Her pass found a wide-open Christina Hagner, who one-timed the ball into the cage to give Harvard the lead.

In the 33rd minute, the Lions were awarded a free kick from around 25 yards out. Mistele took the kick and fired a hard shot towards Mann. The Crimson goalie jumped about a foot off the ground to make a two-handed save. The Lions had consecutive chances with four minutes remaining in the half as Sophie Reiser got an initial shot on goal. Mann made the stop, but Lauren Cooke collected the rebound just a few feet from the goal. Mann stopped that ball as well as Harvard headed into halftime with a one-goal lead.

Both teams had decent chances throughout the rest of regulation, but could not convert.

The Crimson almost grabbed a victory goal at 91:08 when Baskind lined a shot towards the left of the cage. The ball hit off the left post before rolling out of play. Baskind had another good chance at the 96th minute, as she got a header on net, but Taylor got in front of it and covered up.

With 20 seconds left in the first extra session, Baskind cut her way through the Columbia defense and got a hard shot off with her right foot, but the ball was blocked by a Columbia defender.

At 105:58, Baskind once again almost ended the game as she fired the ball over Taylor’s head, hitting the cross bar and bouncing straight down. Columbia gained possession and cleared before Harvard could try another attempt.

Mann finished the contest with five saves, while Taylor had seven stops for the Lions. Harvard controlled the final count in shots, 25-15, and led 15-5 in corners for the game.

Seniors Allison Keeley, Rachael Lau, Maggie Robinson, Nicole Rhodes and Erin Wylie were honored in a ceremony prior to the game.

Harvard will now await Monday evening’s NCAA tournament selection show which will announce the Crimson’s opponent in the opening round. The show will be broadcast on ESPNews between 8 and 8:30 p.m. EST.

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