Always on Top: A Look Back

In a little over one month, the Harvard women's lacrosse team has roared through its regular season schedule, obliterating nearly everything in its path.

The squad finished with an overall 13-1 record (6-0 lvy), secured its 12th consecutive Ivy League title, retained its first place ranking in the national Brine poll, and captured the first seed in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

With its top seed and accompanying first-round bye, Harvard has ample time to relax and hone its skills before it plays in the final Four next weekend in Bethlehem, Penn.

And with team confidence, enthusiasm, and morale at peak levels, the Crimson is favored by many to capture its second NCAA title in three years. Here's a look back at how Harvard earned that respect.

A Look Back

MARCH 21--Harvard kicked off its 1992 season with the first of its two spring break encounters. The visiting crimson rolled over Pennsylvania, 11-5, and squashed Temple five days later, 15-4, two games that provided indications of all that was to come.

In these contests, junior attack Liz Berkery netted 11 goals while Co-Captain Sarah Leary stopped a total 30 shots on goal.

MARCH 28--Returning to Cambridge with two wins under its belt, Harvard readied itself for the longawaited dogfight against Princeton. The Tigers came in to the game ranked first in the nation--but the Crimson surprised even itself, destroying Princeton, 13-2, and capturing the nation's first place ranking.

MARCH 30--The crimson hosted Boston College in a "typical BC game," according to Harvard Coach Carole Kleinfelder. "They were really scrappy and put a lot of pressure on us."

But the Crimson easily pulled this one off, winning 14-6.

APRIL 3--"Sweet revenge" was the entree as Harvard avenged two previous losses to UNH with a 9-6 victory at Ohiri Field.

The key to this Crimson win was pesky defense, especially Co-Captain Ceci Clark's, who held wildcat senior Alita Haytayan scoreless.

APRIL 8--Two consecutive away games produced two more wins, pushing the Harvard winning streak to seven.

The Crimson slammed lowly Rutgers, 16-5, before invading scenic New Haven. Despite a sloppy Crimson attack, the Elis posed no challenge for Harvard, falling 7-2.

"Our defense was sensational," Berkery said.

APRIL 11--It was a showdown at the Ohiri Corral as first-ranked Harvard took on second-ranked Maryland. In a nip-and-tuck match, the Crimson squeaked by with a 7-5 triumph.

Harvard sophomore Sarah Downing led all scorers with four goals.

APRIL 15--Panic and concern bubbled over after the Crimson's stunning overtime loss to Loyola (Md.) in Baltimore.

Harvard came out strong jumping out to a 4-0 lead, but then gave up four unanswered goals and went on to lose, 10-9, despite Leary's 15-save performance in goal.

It was to be the only blemish on an otherwise perfect season.

APRIL 22--Harvard returned to its winning ways, steamrolling Brown, 13-4. The offense, stagnant against Loyola, returned to life and stung the Bears on multiple occasions.

Not only did the offense explode for 13 goals, but the points were evenly spread--eleven Crimson players managed to put points on the board.

APRIL 26--The Crimson celebrated its final two home games with tow solid victories.

Cornell visited Ohiri Field first, featuring a zone defense which stymied the mighty Harvard offense, holding it to a mere five goals. Fortunately, Leary shut out the Big Red in the second half, and the Crimson pulled this one out 5-2.

Old Dominion provided an easier matchup as the Crimson simply out-classed the Monarchs, defeating them 16-5. "It was a good effort by everyone," senior Becky Gaffney said. "Our bench showed again that it can play, and everyone was aggressive."

APRIL 29--The 1992 Ivy League title clearly went to the best team as Harvard defeated Dartmouth, 11-5, ending the lvy season with a perfect 6-0 record.

The Crimson played as well as it had all season, with a solid offense and a stingy defense both working for the triumph.

"It's the best we've played," Clark said.

MAY 2--This game was a bit of an anti-climax and the Crimson treated it as such. Harvard travelled up to Vermont for its final regular-season game and just barely squeaked by, 7-6.

The Crimson blew a 7-2 lead in the second half to allow a Catamount comeback, but managed to hang on in the end.

The victory assured the team of its top-ranked position in the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association poll and the subsequent top seeding in the NCAA tournament.