Stickwomen Prevail in Lackluster Performance

Harvard's field hockey team played just well enough to beat Yale, 1-0, last Saturday afternoon at Cumnock Field. The Crimson's not-so-overpowering effort handed the slumping Elis their seventh straight loss.

In addition to the win, Harvard received some good news on Saturday. Brown and Princeton, two rival contenders for the Ivy League crown, tied, 0-0. By virtue of that stalemate, Harvard has moved into a first place tie with Princeton. The Tigers' and Crimson's match on October 26th could be for all the marbles.

The Crimson may have overlooked Yale as a threat to interrupt its title march, which would explain the close 1-0 contest. Yale definitely played with more intensity than Harvard.

"We had our moments, but we weren't operating on all cylinders," Coach Sue Caples said. "The difference was our defense, which shut Yale down."

Despite losing, Yale's coach was encouraged by her team's effort.

"We had better possession in this game than others, we were able to do what we had practiced, and we made it a close match," Yale Coach Carla Hesler said.

Harvard outshot Yale, 18-8, but neither team's chances forced goalie acrobatics. Co-Captain Kristen Fowler was Harvard's big gun today. In the first half she blasted a corner shot right by the goalie, but defender Sandra Lujic, who was positioned right on the goal line, managed to sweep the ball away.

"Their goalie looked a little weak, we should have been able to take advantage of her," junior foward Rachael Burke said. "The pace was really slow, and it was hard to get our passing game going."

Second Half

Harvard came out stronger in the second half. Sarah Downing, Kristen Fowler, and Francie Walton made a series of sideline combinations that dumped the ball in Yale's end. The Elis defenders may as well have been orange cones in a practice drill for all their effectiveness.

Five minutes into the half, Kristen Fowler and Ceci Clarke combined for another of their patented corner goals. Fowler now has six goals this season, while Clark has seven assists.

During the middle of the second period, Yale rallied slightly. They failed, however, to penetrate Harvard's circle and managed only two shots. The Crimson's backs and midfielders prevented Yale from finding any open field.

Clarke and Walton thwarted Yale's three corners of the half. They charged the shooter and disrupted each play, while making Lisa Yadao's job less taxing.

Harvard closed the door on Yale in the final five minutes. The Crimson did not sit back on its 1-0 lead, but kept Yale pinned in its own end. With one minute remaining, Fowler almost flicked in another corner goal, but a defender illegally batted the ball down. Harvard's penalty stroke woes continued as Amy Belisle's shot ricocheted off the left post.

Despite this slight statistical black mark, the Yale coach aptly summerized the game.

"Harvard was more poised in the clutch situations inside our 25-yard line. They created more corners which their offense finished off," Coach Hesler said.

The Crimson welcomes 17th-ranked Providence College to Cumnock Field today at 3:30. A victory over the Friars would vault Harvard into the national picture.