UConn Overcomes Stickwomen, 2-1

"It's a field hockey day," someone said.

True, the sun was shining an autumn chill was settling in, and the air was crisp and clean.

A perfect day to play a perfect game.

Well, almost perfect.

Yesterday in Storrs, Conn., the Harvard field hockey team (2-2 overall, 1-0 Ivy) combined its aggressive offense and solid defense to give the University of Connecticut a tough fight, but eventually fell short, losing 2-1.

The Huskies took advantage of a penalty corner and an apparent break in Harvard's concentration and scored twice in the last five minutes of the first half.

The first goal came off a corner where instead of using the traditional stop-hit UConn passed off to the left and took the shot.

"It was a very strong, fast hit," sophomore goalie Lisa Yadao said. "It was a good goal."

The second UConn goal came a few minutes later after a messy scramble in front of the cage.

"It was a momentary lapse on the part of the defense," senior Co-Captain Erin O'Brien said. "We thought we had committed a foul but the referees held their whistles. We figured it would be a penalty corner, and we let up for a second."

Harvard's lone goal was scored by sophomore Loren Ambinder with 20 minutes remaining in the second half. On a penalty corner, sophomore Sandra Whyte flicked the ball just left of the goal and Ambinder deflected the still airborne shot past the UConn goalie.

Despite the final outcome of the game, the players were encouraged by the team's performance.

"We played the best hockey we've played all season," Yadao said. "We executed everything very well. We shut down key players and made strong transitions from defense to offense."

"We really clicked today," Ambinder said. "The passing was beautiful and we were totally poised. It was the first time this season we really showed what we can do."

In fact the only problem the Crimson seemed to have in this game was losing.

"It's tough to lose when you know you've played your best, but at least you have no regrets," O'Brien said. "We know we've played well against one of the best teams in the East."

Yesterday's strong performance will serve as a confidence builder for the Crimson's game against the University of Pennsylvania this Sunday at Soldiers Field. The Quakers are at the top of the Ivy League standings with a league record of 2-0.

"Each game we get better and better," Ambinder said. "If we keep playing like this, we're going to go all the way. No stopping."