The field hockey team came up big in its first road game of the season, defeating No. 20 Harvard in Cambridge, Mass., 1-0. Co-captain Kristen Vincent '06 provided the offense for the Bears and goalkeeper Evelyn Brosi '07 made four stops en route to the Bears' first shutout of the year. With the win, the Bears even up their record at 3-3 (1-1 Ivy).
"Any Ivy League win is huge, but this one is especially important," said Stacy Gugliotta '07.
Coming into the game, the Bears had been clicking on all cylinders, having jump-started their previously floundering offense Wednesday against the University of Rhode Island with six second-half goals. Despite the team's newfound ability to find the net, it came into the game as the underdog going up against its first ranked opponent of the year.
Early on the Bears did not look fazed by Harvard's sparkling 5-1 record. After a strong attack, the Bears were awarded a penalty corner. Vincent secured the loose ball and, despite being heavily defended, got enough on the shot to beat Crimson goalkeeper Kelly Knoche. It was Vincent's second goal of the year and only the second goal allowed by Harvard all season.
It turned out to be all the offense that the team needed. Brosi picked a great time to notch her first career shutout, keeping the one-goal lead intact for the remaining 59:29 of play.
"Evelyn played an extremely great game, which we needed from her," said Tracy Dungo '07. "Going up against a tough team on the road, no one really expects you to win, especially when that team is Harvard. The mindset we had going in was that we have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I think everyone really stepped up."
The Bears knew that the Crimson were coming off a victory against a tough University of Connecticut team on the road, but Head Coach Carolan Norris did not mention to the team that Harvard was ranked nationally until after the game. She also waited until after the game to inform her players that a win against Harvard would be the first in her eight-year tenure as Brown's head coach.
Even during their recent three-game losing streak, the Bears have never been short on confidence. However, the win raises the team's expectations for the rest of the year.
"We have to make sure that we don't lose the hunger that comes with being the underdog," Gugliotta said. "This definitely makes us see that we can beat anyone if we put our mind to it."
The Bears look to go back over .500 for the first time since the season opener when they return home to face Northeastern University on Wednesday.
