'Cliffe Field Hockey Buckles Under Dartmouth Attack, 3-0

Dartmouth's potent field hockey team was expecting a cakewalk against Radcliffe over the weekend. But although they emerged 3-0 victors, the Big Green found itself pitted against a psyched up bunch of Crimson stickhandler.

The memory of last year's humiliating 9-0 loss in Hanover was still a bitter one in the minds of returning 'Cliffe veterans. One of them, co-captain Carlene Rhodes, turned in a sparkling performance. The goalie, who in the words of teammate Diana Finch "always stands out," kept Radcliffe in the tense affair with superb netminding.

On one of her 11 saves, Rhodes stymied a break way with a daring maneuver. The versatile athlete roamed out of the crease to the top of the circle, thwarting her onrushing attacker with a clearing swipe.

But Dartmouth's consistent, persistent attack finally beat the Radcliffe defense midway through the first half. Big Green captain Sandy Helve deflected the ball into the 'Cliffe cage off a corner shot. The right inside notched the encounter's initial goal off a scramble out in front.

Helve came back later in the half off a breakaway, handing the visitors a 2-0 lead intermission. The swift Green stickhandler slammed a wicked shot past Rhodes into the opposite corner of the mesh. Coach Mary Corrigan's crew added an insurance marker twenty minutes into the second half to round out the scoring.

Radcliffe's offense managed seven shots against an aggressive Dartmouth back wall. Two of them were serious scoring opportunities, corner shots that just missed their intended destination.

Ann Depuis' play at the sweeper position drew kudos from coach Deborah Field, who feels her 1-4-1 squad has been making strides with every successive outing.

"I'm pleased with our ball-control improvement," the rookie mentor commented, "but we have to work on coordinating our rushes better."

Radcliffe hopes to get back on the winning track with a win against visiting Wheaton tomorrow.