Box score

Freshman Crystal Poland scored three goals and added two assists to help the Northeastern Huskies (6-4, 1-1 CAA) to a 6-0 victory over Harvard (3-4, 0-2 Ivy) at Sweeney Field on Wednesday. Sophomore Carolyn Malloy scored twice and freshman Nicola Graham added a goal for the Huskies, who scored all six goals in the first half.

Northeastern had not scored six goals in a half since Sept. 23, 2005, a 7-1 victory over New Hampshire.

The Huskies scored on their first shot of the game as Poland rocketed the ball past Harvard keeper Cynthia Tassopoulos just 1:02 into the match. Junior Meg Sweeney picked up an assist on the play, supplying Poland with a neat through ball into space.

Poland picked up her second tally of the day right before the eight minute mark. Sophomore Beth Cobby played the ball on goal from outside the arc, forcing Tassopoulos to kick the ball out of danger. The rebound, however, landed on the stick of a charging Poland, who made no mistake from four yards out.

Poland nearly had her third seven minutes later, but her shot from inside the arc was turned away by Tassopoulos. Unfortunately for the keeper, Malloy was waiting on the doorstep to tap in the rebound for a 3-0 Husky lead.

The relentless attack did not end there. Poland slipped a pass through the Crimson defense to an open Nicola Graham, who waited for the keeper to go down before sliding the ball inside the near post at the 23:13 mark

Poland promptly completed her hat trick only three minutes later, when she blasted a shot high into the cage off a penalty corner. Malloy and junior Anne-Rieke Stuhlmann earned assists on the goal, Poland's eighth of the season.

The Huskies padded their comfortable lead even more with just over four minutes remaining in the half. Taking a pass from Poland, Malloy calmly tucked home her second of the day to put the Huskies up six. It was Poland's eighth point of the afternoon.

Husky keepers Lizzie Priest and Samantha Sewell combined for the shutout, the first time this season the team has held an opponent scoreless. Priest made two impressive stops late, denying Georgia McGillivray's drive off a corner, and Chloe Keating's shot from the left side of the arc.

Northeastern outshot Harvard 20-5, including a 14-1 margin in the first half.

McGillivray earned a defensive save for Harvard in the first half, as she stopped redshirt freshman Allie Conti's attempt after it had trickled past Tassopoulos.

The Huskies return to action on Sunday, when the team hosts its annual Alumnae Day at Sweeney Field vs. New Hampshire at 2 p.m.