Laxwomen Top B.C. in Home Opener

The Crimson laxwomen trounced Boston College, 13-2, in the season's home opener at soggy Soldier's Field yesterday.

Senior Sarah Mleczko, led the Crimson attack playing third home and scoring four goals in the first seven minutes of play.

Returning to the field after nursing a pulled muscle, she added a fifth midway in the second half.

Freshman Maureen Finn, returned to her position at first home, putting four shots into the goal for Harvard.

But Harvard's 13 goals bely what is still an unsteady offense; only three of the Crimson scores were assisted.

Mleczko found assistance from team co-captain Stefi Baum on her first drive after a minute of play. Co-captain Julie Cornman, and freshman Francesca Denhartog, who came in at the half, connected after a pass from Annie Velie to set up Finn's third.

Coach Carole Kleinfelder was pleased with the laxwomen's work on defense but was concerned about the team's attack. "I don't feel as though we have any kind of a flow yet on the attack," she said.

She said good handling of the transitional pass in the second half sparked the tight defense.

So far this season, the Crimson defense had not held a competitor under seven goals. While goalie Charlotte Worsley's hand is in a cast, novice stickwoman Nancy Boutilier has been filling in at the net.

Though Boutilier moaned "I'm not natural" with a stick, she has kept 51 per cent of the shots on goal out of the net until yesterday. Against B.C., she allowed only two goals while saving six.

Co-captain Baum said she feels the Eagles are "not as strong a team as some of the teams we're going to face," possibly referring to the Princeton team Harvard lost to last year and will face again.

The team is cautiously optimistic about its chances.

"If we sharpen up our cuts and passes against Princeton we should really be able to pull together," Finn said.