Crimson Set to Play Boston University on Fox Soccer Channel Sunday

Photo courtesy DSPics.com.

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Complete Game Notes (PDF)

The Game:
Harvard plays local rival Boston University in a nationally televised game on the Fox Soccer Channel Sunday. The contest is the third and final of a three-game stretch for the Crimson on the road.

The Coverage:
In addition to being televised nationally, GoCrimson.com will provide live statistics for Saturday’s contest. WTBU (89.3 FM) will provide a radio broadcast of the game between the Crimson and Terriers.

The Matchup:
The Crimson enters the contest hoping to snap a three-game losing streak. Last time out, Lauren Mann stopped 12 shots and Katherine Sheeleigh scored a goal in the 40th minute, but the Crimson fell at No. 4 Boston College, 4-1, Friday evening.

Harvard picked up its first win of the season by downing New Hampshire at home Sept. 8. Sheeleigh tallied the game’s only goal off a pass from Gina Wideroff and Lauren Mann earned the victory in net, making one save.

The Terriers have also dropped three straight games, falling at Connecticut, at home against No. 23 Penn State and at Northeastern, most recently, Friday evening. Boston University has not scored a goal in its last four games. The team began the 2009 season with back-to-back victories against Rhode Island and Massachusetts by identical 2-0 scores. The Terriers have also tied Loyola (Md.), 1-1, and No. 7 West Virginia, 0-0, in road games.

Series History:
Harvard and Northeastern have met 16 times on the soccer field, with the Crimson holding a 12-1-3 advantage in the all-time series which dates back to 1977. The Crimson won the last meeting, 1-0, in 2007. In that game, Gina Wideroff tallied the game-winning goal in the 101st minute of double overtime for the golden goal. Christina Hagner was credited with the assist and Lauren Mann made four saves between the pipes.

About Harvard:
The Crimson, which stands 0-3 on the road this season, has been outscored, 13-6, by opponents this fall. Harvard holds the edge in corner kicks, 31-30, and has fired 92 shots, including 35 on net. Katherine Sheeleigh paced the team with 30 shots.

With two goals and an assist, Sheeleigh is the Crimson leader with five points. She is also tied with freshman Caroline Albanese with thet team lead in goals with two. Co-captain Lizzy Nichols (one goal, one assist) and Hana Taiji (one goal) have also found the back of the net. The foursome of Melanie Baskind, Aisha Price, Alexandra Conigliaro and co-captain Gina Wideroff have each handed out an assist.

In net, Lauren Mann has played every minute and owns a 2.01 goals-against average. She is 1-4-1 with one shutout (New Hampshire) and has stopped 29 of 42 shots for a .690 save percentage. Last time out, Mann made a season-high 12 saves in the 4-1 loss at No. 4 Boston College Friday evening.

Players to Watch – Boston University:
The Terriers are led offensively by Jessica Luscinski and Farrell McClernon who have both scored two goals. Luscinski and McClernon also have a game-winning goal apiece. Cynthia Warman also has a tally to her credit, while Megan McGoldrick paces the squad with two helpers.

Janie Reilly and Annie Tooley have split time between the pipes for BU. Reilly owns a 1-3 record with a 0.65 goals-against average and a .864 save percentage (19 of 22). Tooley stands at 1-1-2 with a 1.27 goals-against mark and a .815 save percentage (22 of 27).

As a team, BU has been outscored, 8-5, in eight games. The Terriers are outshooting opponents, 113-97, and lead in corner kick opportunities, 32-30.

Finishing Strong:
Harvard has won 10 games the last two seasons and won the Ivy League title last fall for the first time since 1999. The team also reached the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2004. The Crimson had an eight-game unbeaten streak entering last year’s postseason, going 7-0-1.

It’s Good to Be Home:
The Crimson is 7-1-3 in its last 11 home games, dating back to last season. This fall, Harvard opened with a 1-1 tie against San Diego State at Ohiri Field and then defeated New Hampshire, 1-0. The 10-game unbeaten streak was snapped Sept. 11, as the team fell to Long Beach State, 2-0.

Youth Movement:
Harvard’s roster of 26 players, includes 10 freshmen and only four seniors. The squad also consists of six sophomors and six juniors.

Bay Staters:
Melanie Baskind (Framingham), Alexandra Conigliaro (Dedham), Catherine Coppinger (Billerica) and Alexandra Millet (Westford) all hail from the state of Massachusetts.

Deja Vu:
For the second straight season, Katherine Sheeleigh tallied the game-winning goal for Harvard in a 1-0 win over New Hampshire. This season, Sheeleigh netted the goal in the fourth minute, as she scored off a pass from Gina Wideroff.

She’s Honored:
Freshman Caroline Albanese was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week Sept. 8. Albanese gave Harvard a 1-0 lead on her first collegiate goal in the Crimson’s season opener at home against San Diego State Sept. 4.

Mann Moving Up:
With 29 saves so far this fall, Lauren Mann has 250 in her Harvard career, placing her fifth on the all-time Crimson list. Mann is currently 16 saves behind Beth Reilly ’91, while Mann trails Harvard assistant coach Katie Shields ’06 by 22 saves for third place.

Rookie Dominance:
Crimson players have won the last three Ivy League Rookie of the Year awards. Senior Lauren Mann won the award in 2006, junior Katherine Sheeleigh was so honored last fall and sophomore Melanie Baskind took home the award last season.

Score Early:
Harvard is 1-0-1 when scoring first this season, but 0-4-0 when the opponent finds the back of the net first.

Playing on Sundays:
The game between Harvard and BU marks the second straight week that the Crimson have played on Sunday. Last week, Harvard fell at Hofstra by a 3-2 margin after storming back for two goals in the final 10 minutes before falling just short.

Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award:
Harvard co-captain Lizzy Nichols is one of 30 candidates for the prestigious Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for displaying both on-field and off-field excellence. Nichols is a three-time All-Ivy League selection, a double concentrator in history and literature and history of art and architecture and has been named to the Academic All-Ivy League team twice. In addition, she has worked with Habitat for Humanity and the Goals4Leaders program.