Women Booters, UMass Draw No Blood

The players on the Harvard women's soccer team brought their three-game losing streak to a grinding hault yesterday, as they played New England's number-one ranked University of Massachussetts to a 0-0 tie in Amherst.

Reeling from its three straight losses to Cornell, Dartmouth, and the University of Connecticut, the Crimson went to UMass in search of a turnaround. And after 120 minutes of grueling play, a turnaround the team found.

The aggresive play that earned the team a clean 6-0 slate in the beginning of the season was back.

"It's really encouraging," said Coach Bob Scalise. "It's great to know we can play with a team like UMass."

Coming off of a 5-0 shutout of Adelphi, in which five different players scored, UMass hoped to seal up the New England region with a victory over Harvard.

No such luck.

"I don't think they expected us to be that good," said Scalise. "UMass had more shots on goal, but neither team really posed dangerous scoring opportunities."

Harvard's six shots on goal were no match for its opponent's 13, but they were four more than the UMass goalie is used to facing during a contest.

Harvard's first scoring opportunity came midway through the first half when freshman forward Andrea Montalbano drilled a free kick at the UMass net. The outstretched hands of the UMass netminder were enough to send the ball over the crossbar, and the score remained 0-0.

UMass answered with a tremendous corner kick that ricocheted off the far post out in front of the net. In familiar fashion, though, Harvard goalie Tracee Whitley dove on the ball, and play resumed up the field.

UMass defender Debbie Belkin, one of two National Team members on the Minutewomen, kept her team alive into the second half, but was unable to shine in the mire of the aggresive Crimson midfield.

Harvard forward Karin Pinezich came close in the second half when she split the defense, and headed for the net. The Minutewomen's sweeper was awarded a yellow card when she came from behind and tackled Pinezich. The free kick was thwarted by UMass and the two teams headed into overtime.

Neither team was able to find the handle in extended play.

"We would have been happier with a win, but we are definitely happy with the tie." said Pinezich.

The Crimson will still be eligible for a playoff bid if it wins its remaining three games.