CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — No. 18-ranked Harvard University stopped No. 8 Princeton University, 7-6, in Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) action and non-conference foe/No. 25 Long Island University, 13-10, at home in Blodgett Pool during the Crimson Classic.
Facing the defending CWPA Champion Tigers of Princeton, Harvard’s offense got off to a quick start as sophomore attacker Maya O’Dea scored just one minute into the first quarter to tie the game. In the second quarter, senior center Kaity Greenwald cut a Princeton lead to 3-2 with a goal at the 1:50 mark.
Harvard’s defense stepped up in the second half.
Sophomore center defender Emma Gilbert scored to bring the Crimson even at three-all, and O’Dea put Harvard ahead with her second goal of the day. Junior Niki Piovan extended the lead to 6-3 before O’Dea capped the scoring with a seventh goal six minutes into the fourth quarter. Princeton managed a response at the 4-minute mark but could not close the gap.
O’Dea finished with four goals, bringing her total to six over the last two games of the Crimson Classic. The win marked Harvard’s first over Princeton since 2022 and handed the Tigers their first loss of the season.
Taking on Long Island, eight different players contributed to the win.
Harvard’s offense was explosive from the start.
Gilbert opened the scoring with a penalty goal, followed by a Piovan goal. Lucy Berkman then added a goal, and first-year Sofia Del Villar tallied one of her own. Senior Serafina Cortez capped the first quarter with a goal at the buzzer, giving Harvard a 6-4 lead.
O’Dea scored four goals in the game, bringing her total to eight on the day and 10 overall in the tournament. Heidi Heffelfinger, Erin Kim and Lily Britt also found the back of the net against LIU, further adding to Harvard’s offensive depth.
In the second quarter, Piovan scored again off a power play, pushing Harvard’s advantage to 7-5.
The third quarter featured strong defense, with neither team scoring for the first five minutes. Del Villar added another goal late in the period, and the Crimson held the Sharks scoreless through the entire third quarter.
Harvard maintained their lead in the fourth quarter to outlast Long Island.
Information courtesy Harvard University Athletics Communications
