Crimson edged in NCAA first round

In a fight to the finish, the Harvard women’s soccer team fell to Boston College (B.C.) in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, 1-0.

Harvard and B.C. finished the first half scoreless, but 33 seconds into the second, B.C. broke the tie with a goal.

In such a low-scoring battle, the story of the game was defense. The Eagles only allowed one Crimson shot the entire game, whereas Harvard, which surrendered 20 shots, was led by goalkeeper Lauren Mann ’10, a Second Team Ivy League selection, who recorded 10 saves on the day.

The region’s second seed, B.C. (15-3-2) finished the regular season ranked No. 7 in the country. B.C. also defeated the Crimson earlier this season, 4-1, on Sept. 18, and has not lost to Harvard since 2002.

Although the loss ends the Crimson’s season (9-7-1; 6-1 Ivy League), the year still had its triumphs since Harvard won its second-consecutive Ivy League Championship (ninth overall) and saw six members of the team receive All-Ivy League honors: (first team) Katherine Sheeleigh ’11; (second team) Melanie Baskind ’12, Mann, Lindsey Kowal ’12, Lizzy Nichols ’10; and (honorable mention) Gina Wideroff ’11.