Stickwomen Win, 2-1

With just over one-minute to play in yesterday's field hockey contest between Harvard and the University of Rhode Island, senior forward Kate Martin knocked in a game-winning goal to break a 1-1 tie and up the Crimson record to 9-2-2.

The victory keeps Harvard in the race for an NCAA tournament bid. The team is currently locked in a close race with the University of Massachusetts (10-2-1) for the second of a probable two invitations to be offered Northeastern schools. The two schools tied last week.

"It sure wasn't a pretty win, but it was still a win." Harvard Coach Edie Mabrey said afterwards. "And wins are what we need if we want to make the NCAA tournament."

After overcoming poor officiating in the first half and several missed opportunities in the second, the stickwomen remained poised until Martin knocked in the game winner.

In the game's first 15 minutes, two apparent Harvard goals were nullified by the officials. The first, on a shot from outside the circle by Martin, seemed to ricochet off Ram goalie Deb Robson's pads and into the net. The referees ruled the shot did not touch her, thereby using the score.

The second shot--also from outside the circle--hit senior Jennifer White's stick before reaching the URI net, according to White Once again, the officials ruled the ball did not touch White's stick.

On a shot from outside the circle, the ball must touch a player or a player's stick before it reaches the goal.

"I definitely touched the ball before it went in the net," White said of the second non-goal. "The officials just blew it, but they wouldn't admit it."

In the second half, the Crimson dominated play, allowing the Rams only one shot on goal while Harvard managed 12. The stickwomen were unable to convert the scoring opportunities, however, until Martin's last minute heroics.

"It was such a frustrating game," Mabrey said. "They [the officials] took two goals away from us early and then we got hot, but couldn't put anything in the net. Everything was just missing."

"But what made me so happy was despite those problems, the girls kept at it, and never gave up," she continued. "It was really scary until Kate came through."

Martin, who scored the winning goal off a penalty corner, found herself unguarded in front the Ram goal, hoping the ball would come her way.

"The goalie had been pulled out of the net and no one was around me," the co-captain said. "The ball came to me and I just swung, praying it would go in.

When it did reach the back of the URI net. Martin had not only given her team the win but also tied the Harvard record for most goals in a career.

"I'm pretty excited about that record," she said afterwards, somewhat humbly. "But what I'm really excited about is this victory."

"Coming off that tough loss to Princeton, we were kind of down," she added referring to Saturday's 1-0 setback at the hands of Princeton. "But this victory did us a lot of good. It scared us enough so that we realize we need to work really hard every minute of every game."

THE NOTEBOOK: The Crimson's first goal came on a shot by Jennifer While from the middle of the field. Beth Mullen had the assist...Harvard, 3-1 in Ivy play, faces Brown Saturday in a must-win game.