Erica Walsh To Coach Women's Soccer Team

Erica Walsh has been named as Harvard's new women's soccer head coach in an announcement made by Nichols Family Director of Athletics Bob Scalise.

The current U.S. Under-17 national team head coach comes to Harvard after spending one season as an assistant with the nationally ranked Florida State program. A former head coach, Walsh has eight years of experience coaching at the collegiate level. She has also been associated with the U.S. national team for three years, having worked with the U-19 and U-17 teams. She is also a USSF 'A' License Coach.

"We are thrilled to have Erica Walsh join our department to lead our women's soccer program," said Scalise. "Being able to attract such a quality person speaks volumes about our tradition of excellence and where we can go in the future. Erica has already earned a great deal of success in the coaching ranks, and we look forward to helping her build on our past success to accomplish great things at Harvard."

Walsh's experience within the Ivy League has been highly successful as a former assistant and head coach at Dartmouth. After two seasons as an assistant in Hanover, N.H., Walsh took over the top duties in 2000 and led the Big Green to two Ivy titles and three NCAA tournament appearances including a pair of appearances in the round of 16. Overall, Walsh produced a three-year record of 37-15-2 (.704) with a 16-4-1 league mark.

"My personal connection to the Ivy League and the emphasis it places on quality academics and athletics makes this opportunity very appealing to me," said Walsh. "Harvard's wonderful tradition has been bolstered by a tremendous recruiting class, and I am extremely eager to get started." Her Dartmouth teams finished 13th, 16th and 25th in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America final rankings in her three seasons. Additionally, all three of her teams received the NSCAA's Team Academic Award while she was the head coach.

Walsh stepped down from Dartmouth following the 2002 season to pursue an MBA from Lehigh University while working as an assistant coach with the Mountain Hawks. After two years at Lehigh, Walsh joined the Florida State program, which advanced to last season's NCAA College Cup semifinals.

Walsh earned her undergraduate degree in biology in 1997 from The College of William & Mary, where she also stood out on the soccer field, advancing to post season play in all four years. Named as a captain in her senior season, Walsh was also a two-time first team All-CAA selection, a two-time team MVP, and an NSCAA all-region selection.

2006 Alumni and Alumnae Soccer Weekend: SUNDAY

Listing of events

9:00am Men's Alumni Game (by decade), Ohiri Field
1:30pm Women's Soccer Harvard Invitational, Harvard vs St. Mary's University, Ohiri Field

2006 Alumni and Alumnae Soccer Weekend: SATURDAY

Listing of events

9:00am 1986 Men's Soccer Final Four alumni rematch between Harvard and Duke, Ohiri Field
11:00am Women's Alumnae Game, Ohiri Field
1:00pm Men's Soccer: Harvard vs Duke, Ohiri Field
Gameday activities for children under 12. Details on activities will be sent to those who sign up.

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6:30pm Reception and Silent Auction, Murr Center Hall of History
7:30pm Dinner, Murr Center Tennis Courts
65 N. Harvard Street, Boston (next to the football stadium)
$75 per person ($50 if Harvard '00-'05, $20 children under 12)

To donate items to the silent auction, please contact the Varsity Club at hvc@fas.harvard.edu or (617) 495-3535.

2006 Alumni and Alumnae Soccer Weekend: FRIDAY

Listing of events:

1:30pm Women's Soccer Harvard Invitational: Harvard vs Penn State

8:00pm John Harvard's Restaurant, 33 Dunster Street, Cambridge (informal -- just come down and hang out!)

RSVP to Harvard Women's Alumnae Game

The regular women's alumni game will be taking place on Saturday, September 16, 11am, at Ohiri Field.

If you are planning on playing, please confirm your attendance with Ashley Mattison at ashley_joy_mattison@hotmail.com. You are also encouraged to post your comments on this site!

We will update the player list here from time to time, so check in again soon.

RSVP to Harvard Men's Alumni Game

The regular men's alumni game will be taking place on Sunday, September 17, 9am, at Ohiri Field.

If you are planning on playing, please confirm your attendance with John Kerr at jkerr@fas.harvard.edu or 617 495 4549. You are also encouraged to post your comments on this site, including those which may encourage (or disparage) the physical conditioning of your former teammates.

We will update the player list here from time to time, so check in again soon.

RSVP to Harvard vs Duke Alumni Game

The rematch of the Harvard-Duke game will be taking place on Saturday, September 16, 9am, at Ohiri Field. If you are planning on playing, please confirm your attendance with John Kerr at jkerr@fas.harvard.edu or 617 495 4549. You are also encouraged to post your comments on this site.

Harvard vs Duke Alumni Reunion Match

Harvard will host a match at Ohiri Field that will feature players from the Harvard and Duke teams that played in the Final Four match of 1986. Players from all over the world are expected to attend this 20th anniversary commemoration, which will take place on September 16. The game will coincide with the match between the universities' current teams, as well as the Women's Soccer Harvard Invitational.

The tentative schedule is as follows:

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 15
1:30pm Harvard vs Penn State (women)
8:00pm Informal gathering at John Harvard Restaurant, 33 Dunster Street.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16
9:00am Mens' Soccer Final Four rematch, Ohiri Field
11:00am Women's Alumnae Game, Ohiri Practice Field
1:00pm Harvard vs Duke (men)
Game day activities for children under 12.

A reception for all Harvard Soccer alumni will be held in the Murr Center Hall of History. It begins with cocktails and a silent auction at 6:30pm, and a dinner at 7:30pm. Tickets are $75 per person ($50 for classes '00-'05, $20 for children under 12). RSVP BY SEPTEMBER 1. If you would like to donate items to the silent auction, please contact the Varsity Club at 617 495 3535 or hvc@fas.harvard.edu.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 17
11:00am Men's Alumni Game, Ohiri Practice Field
1:30pm Harvard vs St Mary's University (women)

Please contact us directly if you would like to attend any of the scheduled events. We would also appreciate it if you could forward this notice to your teammates.