George Mason Umbro Classic
Harvard 1, George Mason 1 (OT)
Harvard 3, Maryland 1
Former Harvard star Andy Kydes '67, two-time First Team All-Ivy and Second Team All-America, reports on the games.
Harvard 1 George Mason University 1
Harvard women's soccer battled GMU to a hard fought 1-1 tie. The Harvard team arrived late to the field, just 5 minutes before kick-off, and seemed sluggish and a little off-tempo in the first half. GMU dominated the first half. GMU midfielder Meredith Hampton scored in the 37th minute of play from a pass from Shannon Jones, another GMU midfielder, when a rare lapse in the Harvard defense left the goal-keeper undefended. GMU nearly scored another goal in the first half when an open goal shot from 12 yards sailed over the top.
GMU started the second half with an early shot that hit the goal post and went out. Harvard went on to dominate the second half with aggressive play, excellent ball control, and constant pressure on GMU. Harvard's counter-attack was very effective in the second half and produced a number of shots that were close. The GMU goalkeeper kept the Crimson scoreless until Beth Zotter, assisted by Gina Foster and Devon Bingham, scored in the final 2 minutes of play. The Crimson continued the pressure and dominated the first overtime period, while the second overtime period was evenly played. Fatigue taking its toll on both teams.
For Harvard, Keren Gudeman, Naomi Miller, and Lauren Corkery were standout performers on a team that played very well.
Harvard 3 University of Maryland 1
The game began at 11 AM with a bright clear sun and temperatures that rose to the mid-eighties. Harvard totally dominated the first half against an excellent University of Maryland team with excellent defense, a quick short-passing game, a lot of aggressive play, hustle, and sound ball control. Harvard's play was so aggressive that two yellow cards were given in the first half and one in the second half.
Harvard's Ashley Berman scored first with a low shot into the left corner of the net with assists from Julia Blain and Naomi Miller in the last nine minutes of the half. University of Maryland quickly countered with a score from Emma Harbo on one of the few indecisive plays by the Harvard defense. I came with less than 6 minutes left in the half. Ashley Berman (4) scored her second goal for Harvard with less than one minute left to play when Naomi Miller dribbled past two Maryland defenders on the left side of the box and shot a hard low cross that found its way to Devon Bingham and Ashley Berman on the far side of the goal-keepers box. Berman scored again. Harvard had over half a dozen additional good opportunities to score in the first half.
In the second half, Harvard's style of play become totally defensive from about the 55th minute to the 75th minute of play. University of Maryland maintained a persistent blistering attack that Harvard seemed unable to counter. Play was entirely in Harvard's defensive half of the field. Harvard seemed particularly vulnerable, but fortunately survived it. Naomi Miller's return to the game with 15 minutes remaining sparked the Harvard counter-attack and the flow of the game turned back to Harvard's favor. Harvard scored its third goal with 4 1/2 minutes remaining. Devon Bingham passed to Naomi Miller on a counter-attack; Naomi dribbled past one defender and drew two others to her. Naomi found Lindsay Minkus on her left, and Minkus then found the net.
Overall, Harvard played an excellent game against a talented Maryland team, with the possible exception of a twenty minute lapse, probably due to heat exhaustion. Solid playing by the entire team, with some standout defensive performances by Gina Foster and Jaime Chu in the mid-field and Lindsay Minkus and Naomi Miller on offense. It clearly took a solid team effort to win the match. The presence of many Harvard alumni, parents and friends was clearly evident, and provided a boost to the team.
