“The teams we needed to win didn’t,” coach Sue Caples said. “The bottom line in the end is: We didn’t do everything we could to get them to put us in the tournament.”

Citing close games with Richmond and Dartmouth, Caples explained, “We had a couple of tough losses, but we played at a very high level,” Caples said. “We will contend for the Ivy League crown every year.”

Caples said she was impressed with the team’s overall improvement this season, despite not making the tournament.

“We really have made tremendous strides and elevated the level of our program over the last four years,” Caples said.

The fact that the team will not be competing in the playoffs is not all bad, according to Caples.

“We will use it as a motivating force to work to get back there next year.” Caples said.

Though Harvard’s six graduating players will not close out their careers in postseason play, some were nevertheless able to appreciate their time competing for the Crimson.

“I don’t think it will hit me for a bit that it is over for me,” Ahn said. “But I look back and there are good memories and there’s not too much more you can ask for.”