Field Hockey Makes It Into Top 20

It took just over half the season, but the Harvard field hockey team has finally found its way into the Top 20. Barely.

In the latest rankings released Wednesday, the stickwomen were ranked 20th nationally.

But that ranking will quickly go on the line tomorrow, when the Crimson hosts 12th-ranked Dartmouth in what has shaped up to be the Ivy showdown of the year. The only two remaining unbeaten, untied teams in the league (Dartmouth is 3-0 and Harvard 2-0 in the Ivies) will do battle at 11 a.m. on Soldiers Field.

The showdown's winner will undoubtedly become the odds-on favorite to capture the Ivy flag, and with it an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. Harvard is seeking its first title and first post-season berth.

Dartmouth (5-1-1 overall) boasts one of the nation's top goalies in Tori Parrott. In three Ivy games, Parrott has not given up a goal. But Harvard has been red-hot lately, averaging just under three goals a game in its last four contests.