From a distance, it would look like the Harvard women's soccer team enjoyed a successful season.

And in fact, the Crimson did, going 9-5-1 overall, finishing third in the Ivy League and advancing to the semifinals of the ECAC tournament.

But Harvard's record doesn't tell the whole story of this year's campaign.

At various points throughout the season, it looked like the Crimson was going to win the Ivy League. At others, it looked as if it would be fortunate to squeak by with a winning record.

Consistency was not this team's strong point.

"Consistency is what separates the good teams from the great teams," Co-Captain Amy Weinstein once said. "I guess we're still just a good team."

A good teem that might have been a great one was the story of the Crimson.

From game to game, the team was never sure how it was going to come out and play. When it was playing well, it could stand up to nationally ranked teams.

The Crimson won three out of four matches with top-20 opponents, beating Providence, Dartmouth and Massachusetts. The Crimson lost only to second-ranked Connecticut.

In its Ivy finale against Dartmouth, the Crimson scored more goals (three) than Dartmouth All-Ivy goalie Kari Reuter had allowed all season.

This was a powerhouse squad.

But there is a flip side to the coin. Harvard also lost consecutive games to Brown and Boston College and missed a chance to win the Ivy League title, which the Crimson had the potential to win.

The Cornell game was a heart-breaker. Harvard played some of the worst soccer it had played all season, yet lost to the eventual Ivy champion only after the referee awarded the Big Red a controversial penalty kick in the waning moments of the game. As a result, Harvard lost, 2-1.

They came so close to greatness.

Harvard was honored with five players receiving All-Ivy recognition, a deservedly high number.