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The Harvard Crimson are the 25th team in our 2018 schedule preview series and the fourth team from the Ivy League. The Crimson started the season 4-0, but lost seven of their final nine games, recording wins against Dartmouth and Yale. In response, head coach Chris Wojcik has two new assistant coaches in Justin Turri and Stephen Toomy.
Here’s the entire 2018 schedule:
Harvard’s 2018 Schedule
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Road Team | Home Team | Special Notes | Last Year's Meeting(s) |
| 2/17 | UMass Lowell | Harvard | 14-9 W | |
| 2/20 | Holy Cross | Harvard | 12-9 W | |
| 2/24 | Harvard | UMass | 11-7 W | |
| 3/3 | Hartford | Harvard | First meeting since 2009 (18-7 W) | |
| 3/10 | Harvard | Providence | First meeting since 2003 (8-3 W) | |
| 3/17 | Brown | Harvard | Ivy League | 13-8 L |
| 3/20 | Boston University | Harvard | 13-8 L | |
| 3/24 | Dartmouth | Harvard | Ivy League | 14-7 W |
| 3/28 | Harvard | Albany | 15-13 L | |
| 4/7 | Harvard | Cornell | Ivy League | 12-9 L |
| 4/14 | Harvard | Penn | Ivy League | 14-10 L |
| 4/21 | Princeton | Harvard | Ivy League | 12-9 L |
| 4/28 | Harvard | Yale | Ivy League | 9-8 W |
Two changes from last year’s schedule. Hartford and Providence replace Vermont and Penn State respectively on the schedule.
Let’s check out some notable games on this schedule:
Best Nonconference Game: @ Albany
The Crimson played the Great Danes surprisingly well in late March, losing by just two goals. It was a midweek game played at Harvard Stadium, and the Crimson kept it close for the entire game. Will it be enough with this year’s Great Dane team?
Best Conference Game: vs. Princeton
If the Crimson can contain Michael Sowers on offense and limit his productivity for the rest of the offense, the Crimson should be able to pull off a win against the Tigers, which could mean big things in terms for the Ivy League Tournament.
Under The Radar Game: @ Providence
The Friars had a great 2017, coming up one goal short of a possible Big East championship and an NCAA Tournament birth. Their defense isn’t a strong as it was last year, but Tate Boyce is one of the best goalies in the nation, while Brendan Kearns and Nick Hatzipetrakos lead a good offense.
Possible Upset: vs. Boston University
BU is a program on the rise, and I don’t think we would’ve thought beating BU would be an upset when the Terriers began five years ago. But Ryan Polley has done a great job building the program from scratch, and they might start the season in the top 20. The Terriers beat the Crimson 13-8 last year at Nickerson, but with a new staff and Morgan Cheek, La Salle College High School product Sean Coleman, and Robert Shaw returning, Harvard looks to get revenge on the Patriot League program.