<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0D86JF_0vkw00V800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0D86JF_0vkw00V800" width="800" height="450" ><p><b>CAMBRIDGE, Mass. –</b> A new season begins for Harvard women's soccer on Saturday, as the team will make the trip down to Providence to take on its rival, the Brown Bears. The Crimson (4-0-4, 0-0-0 Ivy) will begin the Ivy League portion of its schedule when it battles the Brown Bears (3-2-3, 0-0-0 Ivy) on its home grounds this weekend. The Branca Family Head Coach for Harvard Women's Soccer, Chris Hamblin, and his team recently completed an unbeaten run in its non-conference schedule with a 2-2 draw at the No. 10 Santa Clara Broncos last Sunday.</p><p>The Crimson - the reigning Ivy League Tournament Champion - will now turn its focus towards Brown – The three-time defending Ivy League regular season champion – in what should be another classic battle in the storied rivalry between the two schools.</p><h2>WHAT TO KNOW</h2><h2>THE START OF A NEW SEASON</h2><ul><li>After completing its out of conference schedule with an unbeaten record of 4-0-4, the Crimson now shifts its attention towards Ivy League play. The conference season begins this Saturday when the Crimson squares off with its rival, the Brown Bears, in Providence.</li><li>The team is coming off a hard-fought 2-2 draw at No. 10 Santa Clara last Sunday (Sep. 22). It was the best result the Crimson has ever had against a top 10 team, with all other matches resulting in losses.</li><li>The Crimson went unbeaten in regular season non-league play for the second time in program history – both during in the tenure of Coach Hamblin - the first coming 2021 when the team posted a 7-0-1 record.</li><li>The non-conference schedule was highlighted by wins over Milwaukee, Boston University and Northeastern along with tying results against Northwestern, No. 20 Pepperdine and No. 10 Santa Clara.</li><li>In eight seasons under Hamblin, the Crimson owns a 31-10-8 Ivy League record and won five of seven conference games in each of the past four seasons dating back to 2019.</li></ul><h2>IN THE RANKINGS</h2><ul><li>Harvard comes into the contest with Brown owning and RPI rank of 71 through eight games played. The Ivy League is currently ranked No. 6 in the country in conference RPI.</li><li>The Crimson ranks in the top half of the Ivy League in nearly every statistical metric, highlighted by its first-place rankings in win-loss-tied percentage (.750), shutout percentage (.500) and saves per game (4.88).</li><li>Starting goalkeeper, Rhiannon Stewart, has been brilliant in 2024, ranking inside the top-40 nationally in shutouts (4) and save percentage (.864).</li></ul><h2>HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS</h2><ul><li>The Crimson swept the Ivy League's weekly awards for the third consecutive week as Áslaug Gunnlaugsdóttir and Rhiannon Stewart took home the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week awards.</li><li>Gunnlaugsdóttir burst back onto the scene in a big way after missing the entire 2023 season due to injury, scoring her first goals in 736 days against the Broncos. The last time Gunnlaugsdóttir scored in a game came during the 2022 season, where she led Harvard to a 2-2 draw at No. 17 TCU.</li><li>Josefine Hasbo leads the team and is tied for the Ivy League lead in goals with five on the season.</li><li>Eight different student-athletes have found the back of the net for the Crimson this season while 12 players have recorded a point.</li><li>Rhiannon Stewart has started every game in net for Harvard, allowing only six goals and making 38 saves on the year.</li><li>First-year, Lauren Muniz, is second on the team with five points off two goals and one assist.</li></ul><h2>HISTORICALLY SPEAKING</h2><ul><li>Harvard is 172-73-29 in Ivy League play in program history and owns a 31-10-8 mark under Coach Hamblin.</li><li>The Crimson leads the all-time series with Brown, 28-22-5 but is seeking its first victory over the Bears since the 2018 season.</li><li>The Bears have won three of the past four matchups, outside of the tie between the two teams in the 2022 season.</li></ul><h2>SCOUTING BROWN</h2><ul><li>The Bears enter non-conference play with a record of 3-2-3 and are coming off a 6-1 victory over Northeastern last Thursday (Sep. 19).</li><li>Brown's other two victories came against Providence (Sep. 12) and Central Connecticut State (Sep. 5).</li><li>Despite its record, Brown is still playing quality soccer in 2024, outscoring its opponents 13-7 on the season. The Bears also lead the shots battle with its opponents, holding a 102-61 advantage through eight games.</li><li>Ella Weil leads the Bears with seven points in 2024, scoring three goals and dishing out an assist so far this season.</li><li>Bella Schopp leads the goaltending effort for her team and holds a .80 GAA and a .800 save percentage this season. Schopp has only allowed six goals in eight games played in 2024. </li></ul><p>Harvard will continue its Ivy League schedule next Saturday (Oct. 5) with a match against the Columbia Lions. The Crimson will return to Jordan Field to take on the Lions at 4:00 PM on ESPN+.</p></div></body>

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Women’s Soccer To Begin Ivy League Play at Brown on Saturday

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A new season begins for Harvard women's soccer on Saturday, as the team will make the trip down to Providence to take on its rival, the Brown Bears. The Crimson (4-0-4, 0-0-0 Ivy) will begin the Ivy League portion of its schedule when it battles the Brown Bears (3-2-3, 0-0-0 Ivy) on its home grounds this weekend. The Branca Family Head Coach for Harvard Women's Soccer, Chris Hamblin, and his team recently completed an unbeaten run in its non-conference schedule with a 2-2 draw at the No. 10 Santa Clara Broncos last Sunday.