SANTA CLARA, Calif. – 736 days ago, then Harvard women’s soccer sophomore Áslaug Gunnlaugsdóttir, led the Crimson to a hard-fought 2-2 draw on the road against the No. 17 TCU Horned Frogs with two goals in the match. After a season-ending injury a year ago, Gunnlaugsdóttir is back on the pitch and came through in a big way, scoring two goals to help the Crimson come away with a draw against the No. 10 Santa Clara Broncos this afternoon. The result keeps Harvard’s unbeaten streak alive as the team now sits at 4-0-4 at the conclusion of its non-conference schedule.
The Crimson got two goals from Gunnlaugsdóttir and nine saves from Rhiannon Stewart to preserve its unbeaten record and send them into Ivy League play on a high note.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Crimson and the Broncos squared off for the second time in series history this afternoon as both teams looked to pick up a solid win in the last of its non-conference matches.
- Santa Clara came into the contest ranked the No. 10 team in the nation after its 6-2-0 start to begin the 2024 season. The Crimson last took on a top-10 team in the 2016 season, the first season for the Branca Family Head Coach for Harvard Women’s Soccer, Chris Hamblin.
- The Broncos jumped out to an early lead, scoring a penalty kick goal 4′ into the contest. Starting goalkeeper, Rhiannon Stewart, guessed right, lunging to her left side, but Santa Clara’s Kat Jordan tucked a shot inside the right post, just outside the reach of Stewart
- Nicola Golen nearly scored the equalizer at the 13′ mark, but her shot from distance rung off the crossbar. 20′ into the match, Anya Van Den Einde created a great chance for Josefine Hasbo, putting a floating pass onto the edge of the area where Hasbo was just a little too strong on the touch as the ball rolled into the arms of the pursuing Santa Clara goalkeeper.
- Stewart continued her strong play this afternoon, keeping the Crimson in the match with a trio of early saves. The junior stopped a pair of Bronco attempts at the 23′ and 27′ marks to allow the Crimson to keep searching for the equalizer.
- Áslaug Gunnlaugsdóttir came through for the Crimson 37′ into the action, netting the equalizer with a brilliant left-footed strike from outside the box. The senior’s first goal in 736 days tied the score at one.
- Gunnlaugsdóttir nearly scored again just 30 seconds later but had an attempt deflected by the Santa Clara keeper. The score would remain at 1-1 when the clock struck 45 minutes and the teams went into the locker rooms for halftime.
- The Crimson came out looking towards goal in the opening minutes of the first half. Audrey Francois had an excellent chance get turned aside at the 50′ mark as the score remained 1-1.
- On the defensive end, Harvard began to hit its stride as the Bronco chances were limited in the opening minutes of the second half. Stewart stopped three more shots to increase her total to seven on the afternoon 60′ into the contest.
- The Broncos took a 2-1 lead 72′ into the contest after an own goal was scored by the Crimson.
- Late in the match, Gunnlaugsdóttir once again came in clutch for the Crimson, netting the equalizer at the 86′ mark in the contest. This time, Gunnlaugsdóttir scored with her right foot after a service from Susie Long was batted around in the 18. The senior’s second goal of the match leveled the score at two heading into the final stretch.
- The Crimson held off a late advance by the Broncos to get the result, a 2-2 draw against No. 10 Santa Clara.
HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS
- Áslaug Gunnlaugsdóttir was the hero in the match for the Crimson, scoring two goals, both of which came while the Crimson was trailing.
- Rhiannon Stewart set a new career-high with nine saves in the contest.
- Írena Héðinsdóttir Gonzalez tallied her first career point with an assist on the first Gunnlaugsdóttir goal.
- Erin Gordon and August Hunter led the defensive effort for the Crimson, playing all 90 minutes on the back line.
UP NEXT
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