Allen’s Second Half Goals Send Women’s Soccer Past Harvard 2-0

Saturday, September 23

Cambridge, Mass.

7 p.m.

Brown University

5-1-2, 1-0-0

Harvard

5-3-1, 0-1-0

Brown

Harvard

Photo by: Emma C. Marion

Allen’s Second Half Goals Send Women’s Soccer Past Harvard 2-0

9/23/2023 10:04:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Photo Gallery

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A pair of second half goals from senior midfielder Sheyenne Allen helped the Brown women's soccer team top Harvard by a score of 2-0 on Saturday night to open up Ivy League play.

The goals were Allen's first of the season, and the third and fourth of her career. In a battle featuring the top two teams in the Ivy League preseason rankings, the win moves the Bears to 5-1-2 (1-0 Ivy) on the season, while the Crimson fall to 5-3-1 (0-1 Ivy). Brown extends its Ivy League unbeaten streak to 22 matches (20-0-2) dating back to 2018.

Harvard outshot Brown 13-8 in the game, with each team putting five shots on goal. Harvard held a 9-6 edge on corners. Senior Clare Gagne made five saves for her fourth clean sheet of the season.

"Today was an incredible team win and a great way to start Ivy play," said head coach Kia McNeill. "We were locked in from the start of the game and did a good job executing our game plan, especially after some adjustments at halftime. Sheyenne showed up big for us on both sides of the ball and really showed her experience as a senior captain. I'm really proud of this team and we want to build off this performance to get ready for another tough game next week."

In a defensive battle over the first 45 minutes, Harvard picked up the first half's only shot on goal in the 10th minute from just outside the box, but Gagne was there for the save.

In the second half, the match opened up with each team creating scoring chances. After a shot off a corner kick sailed just wide in the 48th minute, the Bears were able to break through just over five minutes later.

In the 53rd minute, Ava Seelenfreund got pulled down just outside the 18-yard box, drawing a foul and setting up a free kick from about 19 yards out. Allen stepped up to take the kick and sent a left-footed shot over the defensive wall and hooked it past the outstretched hands of the keeper, off the inside of the right post and in to put the Bears on top 1-0.

Allen used another clutch kick to push the lead to 2-0 in the 60th minute, this time off a corner kick, hooking it perfectly between the keeper and the right near-side post to give the Bears a crucial insurance goal.

Brown nearly tacked on another insurance tally in the 81st minute off the foot of Seelenfreund, but Harvard keeper Anna Karpenko came up with a huge save on a shot destined for the top left corner.

Gagne and Brown's defense made the goals stand up. Gagne made four second half saves, including a huge lunging save to punch one over the bar on a shot from well outside the box in the 57th minute, and another stop on a shot by the post in the 82nd minute. The Bears' defense also cleared a loose ball off the end line in front of the goal in the 86th minute.

The Bears will return to action next Saturday, September 30 at home when they welcome Princeton to Stevenson-Pincince Field at 4 p.m.

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