Penn Stickwomen Outcradle Radcliffe; Defense Fails as Quakers Win, 12-4

Radcliffe found no sisterly love in the good city of Philadelphia this weekend as a strong Penn women's lacrosse team wore down the 'Cliffe stickwomen en route to a 12-4 Quaker victory.

Radcliffe, stymied by an unfamiliar and well-disciplined Pennsylvania zone defense, fell behind early in the first half, 3-0, and was forced to play catch-up ball. Barb Matson was able to beat the zone, twice cutting the Penn lead to two goals, 3-1 and 4-2.

Winger Mars Child continued her scoring ways (five goals versus Worcester State), and brought the 'Cliffe to a 6-3 deficit at the intermission.

Although Child's second score at the start of the half pulled Radcliffe within two goals again, any thoughts of an upset were quickly and rudely laid to rest by the host club. The Quakers, led by center Ann Kelley (six goals) rattled off six unanswered goals to bring the score to its final verdict.

Despite the loss, Captain Carlene Rhodes was not overly disappointed. "The team played really well and we learned an awful lot from them," she said yesterday. "We know what we have to iron out now, and I think we can go the rest of the season undefeated," she said yesterday.

Penn's offense was heavily laden with plays that employed a more frontal attack than Radcliffe was prepared for. The result was that goalie Stephanie Lear, who turned a fine performance, often had to fend off screened shots.

Coach Molly Quinby said yesterday. "The defense was not tight enough, and our inability to shift the play from the defense to the attack exposed a weak link at midfield."

Quinby intends to work on finding the open women in the zone defense and on further conditioning. However, games with Tufts, Dana Hall and Yale will occupy the team's attention this week. The showdown versus the Eli laxwomen is a noontime affair Saturday at Soldiers Field.