TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Harvard women's soccer (3-2-1, 0-0-0 Ivy) made history in Tuscaloosa on Sunday afternoon, erupting for six goals to defeat No. 6 Alabama, 6-4, and secure the highest-ranked win in program history. Even a nearly two-hour weather delay could not deny the Crimson, which handed the Crimson Tide (7-1-0, 0-0-0 SEC) its first loss of the season.
Five different Harvard players found the back of the net as the Crimson produced its highest single-game goal total since 2022. Harvard's six goals were also more than Alabama had allowed in its first seven matches of the season combined.
Brooke Huleatt led the scoring charge with two goals, while Ólöf Kristinsdóttir delivered a career-high five points on one goal and three assists.
How it Happened
- Alabama controlled much of the early pressure, but Nicole Bidun stood tall in goal with three saves in the opening 11 minutes. Harvard generated chances of its own, including an Anna Rayhill effort that forced a team save, as the match remained scoreless through the first 18 minutes.
- Alabama then found its breakthrough, scoring twice in less than five minutes to take a 2-0 lead. Ashley Roni opened the scoring in the 19th minute before Kennedy Garcia doubled the advantage in the 24th.
- Harvard answered immediately. Just 19 seconds after Alabama's second goal, Kristinsdóttir tested Madi Munguia and Rayhill buried the rebound to pull the Crimson within one.
- Rayhill's goal gave Harvard life, and the Crimson continued to press for the equalizer as the first half unfolded.
- The momentum swung further toward Harvard in the 36th minute when Alabama's Reece Ward received a red card, forcing the Crimson Tide to play with 10 for the remainder of the match.
- Harvard capitalized before halftime. In the 39th minute, Lauren Muniz finished a strike from outside the box off a Kennedy Belfon assist for her first goal of the season, sending the teams into the break tied, 2-2.
- Alabama regained the lead less than seven minutes into the second half when Larkin Thomason converted a penalty kick in the 52nd minute, putting the nation's No. 6 team ahead, 3-2.
- Once again, Harvard responded almost instantly. Kristinsdóttir had a penalty kick saved, but Huleatt pounced on the rebound and scored to level the match at 3-3.
- Less than three minutes later, Harvard earned another penalty kick. This time Kristinsdóttir buried the attempt in the 56th minute, giving the Crimson its first lead of the afternoon, 4-3.
- Immediately after Harvard moved in front, lightning in the area forced the match into a lengthy weather delay. Play resumed after an hour and 40 minutes with the Crimson protecting a one-goal advantage.
- When play resumed, Harvard managed the match with poise, absorbing Alabama's pressure while continuing to threaten on the counterattack.
- Huleatt delivered a crucial insurance goal in the 83rd minute, breaking free and beating the keeper to make it 5-3. Alabama answered just 41 seconds later through Melina Rebimbas, trimming Harvard's lead back to one and setting up a tense finish.
- Harvard refused to buckle under Alabama's late push. In the 87th minute, Kristinsdóttir supplied her third assist of the day, setting up Jasmine Leshnick for the final exclamation point in a historic 6-4 victory.
Harvard Highlights
- The victory marked the Crimson's highest-ranked win in program history and its first top-10 victory since defeating No. 9 BYU in 1999.
- Harvard scored six goals, its most in a single game since 2022. The total also exceeded the four goals Alabama had allowed across its first seven matches of the 2026 season combined.
- Ólöf Kristinsdóttir tallied a career-high five points with one goal and three assists against the Crimson Tide.
- Brooke Huleatt scored a team-high two goals, doubling her season total from two to four.
- Anna Rayhill, Lauren Muniz, and Jasmine Leshnick each added a goal. Rayhill and Muniz both recorded their first goals of the season.
- Nicole Bidun and Olivia Busby again split duties in goal and combined for seven saves. Bidun made four saves in the opening 45 minutes, while Busby closed out the victory with three saves in the second half.
- Rayhill, Anya Van Den Einde, and Írena Héðinsdóttir Gonzalez each played all 90 minutes for the Crimson.
- The result was Harvard's first win over Alabama. The teams' only previous meeting ended in a scoreless draw in 2015. The victory also marked Harvard's second all-time win over an SEC opponent.
Next Up
The Crimson returns home to face crosstown foe Northeastern on Thursday, September 10, at 7:00 p.m. ET.