PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The No. 8-ranked Harvard women’s water polo team secured two more victories in its first road trip of the season by defeating host/No. 21 Brown University, 15-9, and Marist College, 13-9, at the Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center.
The Crimson pulled away from the Bears in a back-and-forth battle to claim a Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) victory to sweep the season series. Later in the day, Harvard extending its winning streak to 14 games by nixing Marist.
Head coach Ted Minnis earned his 250th career victory with the morning win over Brown. Sitting at 16-1, Harvard is off to its best start since the 1988-89 season and currently holds the longest win streak among all Top-10 ranked teams.
Facing Brown, Maya O’Dea netted Harvard’s first three goals, as last year’s CWPA Rookie of the Year dominated the early moments of the game.
O’Dea completed her hat trick on an exclusion, giving the Crimson a 3-2 lead.
Heidi Heffelfinger connected with Lily Britt in the slot for a goal, doubling Harvard’s lead at the end of the first quarter.
After Brown tied the game at four with two second-quarter goals, Niki Piovan found the back of the net for her first tally of the day.
Lily Britt delivered a highlight-worthy lob shot to restore a two-goal lead for the Crimson.
Harvard led 10-7 heading into the fourth quarter.
Emma Gilbert, Piovan, Ruby Hodge and Erin Kim all scored in the final frame to help secure Harvard’s 13th straight victory.
Kim contributed a goal and two assists, while O’Dea and Gilbert each recorded four points.
Against Marist, Heffelfinger added a pair of goals and O’Dea notched her second hat trick of the day.
Gilbert registered two goals and two assists.
Piovan led the way with six points, tallying three goals and three assists.
Information courtesy Harvard University Athletics Communications
