With just one game left before CAA play begins, the Huskies need to give their out-of-conference opponents everything they’ve got. On Sunday afternoon, under a steady drizzle of rain, Northeastern did just that, battling against the dismal conditions and an aggressive opponent to finish the day with a 1-1 tie, but it was a real challenge to get there.
It’s no secret Northeastern’s women’s soccer team has been struggling this season, with a 1-3-1 record coming into the afternoon, but Harvard has been facing similar difficulties at 0-3-1, making them a solid matchup on the Huskies’ schedule. Although the Crimson dominated the pair’s last meeting, notching a 4-0 win in 2024, Sunday’s game was an exciting showdown between two more evenly-matched teams.
Harvard got out to an early lead when lengthy possession time and a deflected shot earned them a corner kick. Junior Susie Long took the kick, arcing a left-footed shot towards the net. It grazed the foot of junior Jasmine Leshnick en route to the back left corner of the goal, putting the Crimson ahead just 7:43 into the game.
That was just the first of seven Harvard corner kicks, which seemed to be some of their best chances of the game. The Crimson did well at attacking the headers first, but couldn’t settle the ball efficiently enough to capitalize on another corner opportunity.
On the other end, it took Northeastern a while to settle into play. However, once some substitutions were made and the Huskies got some fresh legs on the field, they started matching Harvard’s energy, and the away team got continually stronger as the minutes ticked on.
After more than half the game in a one-goal hole, the Huskies finally eliminated the deficit in the 57th minute. Since transferring from the University of Illinois this season, Claire Murray has been a star for Northeastern, and that only continued against Harvard when she tallied her team-leading third goal of the season. In a one-on-one battle with the Crimson’s Anna Rayhill, Murray took a sliding shot around Murray, hurtling the ball under the arm of diving Harvard goalie Rhiannon Stewart.
Although the final score read even, Harvard seemed to have a slight edge on the Huskies. The Crimson led in shots on goal four to one, and it was star goalkeeper Eliza Teplow who kept Northeastern in the game.
It was clear Teplow was the backbone of the team, with her shouts clear across the pitch as she read the field and guided her teammates into optimal defensive positions. But as much as she was coaching, she was also contributing, including a game-saving save against Harvard shot leader Ólöf Kristinsdóttir, who has put up 10 quality attempts in 171 minutes this season.
Although the Huskies did well generating opportunities, they struggled to convert them, a pattern that’s continued through the past couple seasons. Some messy Harvard passes worked in Northeastern’s favor — especially when Northeastern was able to pressure the Crimson — and on two occasions, this led to a breakaway. However, both times, the Huskies held on too long and didn’t take a shot before the Crimson’s defense caught up to them.
The Huskies have the tools to be successful. They have talent, like Murray and sophomore Lughano Nyondo; they have strong goalkeeping, in Teplow; and they have good communication, such as the words that were evident and drowning out Harvard up and down the field.
The main thing they need now is attack. With just one game left before CAA play opens up against a tough Northern division, Northeastern needs to charge the ball with no hesitation. Whether it’s time to defend or score, the Huskies can’t shy away from pressure.
Northeastern’s last out-of-conference game this season will take place Thursday afternoon at 6 p.m. when the Huskies take on the University of Vermont Catamounts on the road.