Talented Freshman in Goal Means 3-0 Win in Bag

Ohiri Field looks wonderful this fall.

The tuff is in great shape and what Harvard women's soccer coach Bob Scalise calls "the best facility in the country" is a beautiful place to spend an autumn afternoon.

The sod, however, isn't the only thing approaching perfection at Ohiri these days. Yesterday afternoon Coach Scalise's charges played a half of brilliant soccer, blew out Springfield, 3-0, and demonstrated that the Crimson is planning on living up to its advance billing.

Harvard, which features four All-Americans and returns all of its players from last season, took quick control of the contest. By the end of the first 45 minutes, the Crimson's midfield transition game and quick, accurate shots throttled the Chiefs.

In the net for the booters, freshman Trace Whitley also lived up to her advance billing Whitley who played for the national 19-and-under squad showed poise all afternoon. Although the impotent Springfield attack gave the Raleigh, N.C. native few opportunities to show her agility, Whitley took control of the game in the Harvard half of the field with her aggressive ball distribution.

"It [the take-charge style] gets me the respect of the other players and it helps them, too, because it gives them confidence in me," Whitley said.

Whitley, who has been playing soccer since seventh or eighth grade, has always been a goalkeeper. She said the opportunity to play on select teams in North Carolina and good coaching developed her game.

"I was recruited by UNC, but when I came up here to visit I fell in love with the place," the freshman said yesterday. "Right now I'm having a blast."

Also having a blast was Scalise who termed the first half, "Some of the nicest soccer I've seen."

Stopper Inga Larson converted a penalty shot at 13:21 to open the scoring. Forward Kelly Landry took feeds from Debbie Field at 30:14 and Wendy Zeeben at 34:22 and notched the other first-half scores.

Landry, who is in hot pursuit of the all-time Harvard scoring record, displayed one dazzling ball-handling and shooting, often freezing four or five Springfield defenders with her fancy foot work.

The Crimson faltered offensively in the record half, but its defensive dominance kept the Chiefs from mounting any credible scoring threats seven after they gained control of midfield.

Harvard, which mounted a 1-0 triumph at Bowdoin Saturday, earned its second win against no losses. Whitley, who hasn't allowed a score in her first two appearances, and the rest of the squad face a strong challenge from a nationally ranked Vermont squad Saturday at 1p.m. at Ohiri.