Life Imitates Bart

Memories rarely die.

When the seniors and juniors of the Harvard field hockey team think of Brown, they may remember a glorious day two years ago, when with a 2-0 win over the Bears, the Crimson captured its first ever Ivy crown and catapulted Harvard hockey to new heights.

But the thought of facing Brown may also revive a more painful memory: last year's dogfight in Providence. After leading for most of the game, Harvard saw the Bears overcome a two-goal deficit, tie the score and force the Crimson into what felt more like a loss than a draw.

With these memories firmly in mind, the Crimson hosts Brown today in its Ivy season opener at Cumnock Field.

Harvard is coming off a disappointing 2-1 loss to Connecticut in a game that saw the Crimson searching for the intensity that helped it win two consecutive Ivy titles. Brown, on the other hand, is still basking in the glory of its 3-1 win Wednesday over top-ranked New Hampshire.

"We anticipate a good matchup," Harvard Coach Sue Caples said. "Brown is coming off a big win so we have to come out ready to play."