The women’s soccer team entered the season hoping to forget about its disappointing 2-3-2 Ivy record last year — but perhaps it should’ve remembered last season’s Harvard game.
In 2008, the team entered its Ivy opener with Harvard at 2-3-1, yet managed a 2-0 victory.
However, although the Quakers entered Saturday’s match boasting a winning record and a victory over then-No. 25 Pittsburgh, they fell flat in a 3-2 loss.
And the difference could not be attributed to a vastly improved Harvard squad. The 2008 Crimson won the Ivy title while this year’s team entered at 1-5-1.
Ironically, when coach Darren Ambrose reflected on the team’s performance in a game that it should have won, he cited the squad’s renewed confidence as a limiting factor.
“We’ve shown that we need to have a fire lit before we respond,” he said.
In the opening minutes, it seemed that Harvard (2-5-1 , 1-0 Ivy) would be completely overmatched by the improved Quakers (3-2-2, 0-1 Ivy). Penn maintained control of the ball and created several opportunities resulting in a goal by Jessica Fuccello 12 minutes into the game.
“We were able to possess the ball, pull them out of their shape and we got a nice goal,” Ambrose said. “Five minutes after, the momentum turned.”
And the momentum turned in a big way.
After establishing an early lead, the Quakers fell apart, allowing the Crimson to score three times in a 25 minute span — and it wasn’t until after the third goal that the Quakers regained their composure.
“Harvard is a good team and against a good team you can’t afford to make poor decisions,” Ambrose said.
Harvard first got on the scoreboard with a goal by Christina Hagner in the 25th minute, and took the lead shortly before halftime when Melanie Baskind finished a loose ball in the 18-yard box. The Crimson got their third goal on a penalty kick by Lizzie Nichols in the 52nd minute after forward Katherine Sheeleigh was taken down in the box.
According to Ambrose, the first two goals were entirely preventable.
“We had a chance to clear the ball and we didn’t,” he said. “[Harvard] punished us for it.”
With 20 minutes left in the game, Penn started a comeback when sophomore Theresa Yankovich delivered on a Michelle Drugan cross.
“It was a great shot from 18 yards away with her left foot that dipped,” Ambrose said. Yankovich “was opportunistic. The ball dropped in the right spot and she finished with a great shot with her left foot.”
But it was too little too late. The Quakers were unable to put another goal on the scoreboard and were forced to settle for a 3-2 loss.
“We played very well for a half of each half — the first 20 of the first half and the last 20 of the second half,” Ambrose said. “In between we had too many individual errors and that cost us.”
Yet despite the loss, the Quakers have one thing going for them.
While the Quakers beat Harvard last year, they only picked up one more win through the remainder of the Ivy season. This year, they hope that an early loss will provide them with the “fire” to reverse last year’s results in conference play.
“Although today we could not respond, I’m expecting a full-hearted improvement,” Ambrose said.
