CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — No. 18-ranked Harvard University took both games at Blodgett Pool at the Harvard Mini Invitational. The Crimson beat George Washington University by a score of 14-5 before taking down Brown University, 10-7.
The defense was the story for Harvard, holding its opponents to single digit goals for the second and third time this season. Sophomore Colin Le led the defensive effort with six steals, while juniors Michael Sonsini and Alex Tsotadze combined for seven goals and nine assists to pace the offense.
Harvard put in its best defensive effort of the season to beat the Colonials of George Washington for a second time in as many weekends.
George Washington got off to a hot start and took a 3-1 lead into the second quarter after a goal from sophomore Mot Stothart opened the scoring for the Crimson. Sophomore Owen Hale converted a five-meter shot to tie the game at three-all before back-to-back goals from sophomore Alexandru Bucur gave the Crimson a 5-3 lead. A buzzer beater by sophomore Cam Dougherty saw the Crimson take an 8-3 lead into the half.
After not allowing a goal in the second quarter, the Crimson were able to repeat the feat in the third. Tsotadze and sophomore Max Keck tallied their second goals of the game and Harvard led 12-3 after three. Hale and Keck added fourth quarter goals as the Crimson saw out a 14-5 victory to start the day.
A trio of Crimson netted hat tricks, including sophomores Hale, Bucur and Keck, while Sonsini and Dougherty both recorded a team-high three assists.
Harvard held the Colonials scoreless for a 16:42 stretch from the first to fourth period, taking advantage with an 11-0 run.
Facing Brown, Tsotadze netted five goals as the Crimson took down the Bears in a tight affair.
Sophomore Kaleb Archer scored the lone goal of the first quarter as both teams struggled to find the back of the net. A second quarter hat trick by Tsotadze saw the Crimson take a 5-1 lead into the half as Sonsini also got on the scoresheet.
The Bears brought it back to 5-3 in the third period as junior goalie Noah Hodge made a key save on a breakaway to keep the lead at two. Junior Gabe Putnam and Tsotadze tacked on a goal each and Harvard led 7-5 through three. Brown cut the lead to just one, before goals from Sonsini and Stothart to bring it back to three. Tsotadze capped off the evening with his seventh goal of the day to give Harvard a 10-7 victory.
Tsotadze tallied five goals to lead the Crimson against Brown, while Sonsini scored a pair of goals to go along with a team-high four assists.
Le recorded two assists and five steals, giving him a team-high 12 steals on the season.
Hodge tallied six saves and two steals in the win.
Information courtesy Harvard University Athletics Communications
