Fourth-Ranked UMass Topples Stickwomen, 2-0

The Harvard field hockey squad romps on the Ivy League on Saturdays

During the week, it'd like to take apart the rest of the world.

But the University of Massachusetts squad wasn't too accomodating yesterday, as it once again spoiled the Crimson's mid-week upset hopes, 2-0, at Amherst.

Playing on Saturdays--against Ivy opponents--the Crimson is 3-0. But with yesterday's mid-week loss, the stick women's non league record fell to a dismal 2-5.

The Cantabs--now 5-5 overall--didn't really expect to have an easy time with the country's third-ranked team, but an upset would have done wonders for their confidence.

"We really wanted to get a non-Ivy win under our belts," senior defender Beth Mullen said last night. "But I think we showed that we can play with a top-10 team."

And they played extremely well, at that. The fact that the rapidly improving Harvard squad limited the undefeated Minutemen to just two goals--one on a freak play midway through the first half--should provide enough confidence as the Crimson begins its final run for the Ivy title and accompanying NCAA tournament bid.

UMass seems assured an at-large bid to next month's tourney, banking on its impressive 10-0-1 record. But the Crimson will have to continue its Ivy magic to snag it first-ever postseason bid. With its 3-0 league mark. Harvard need win only two of its last three Ivy match-ups to reach the playoffs.

If yesterday's play was any indication, the squad should have little trouble garnering that berth. For the most part, the Crimson defense, led by the inspired play of Mullen and Captain Ellen O'Neill, shut down a highly potent Minuteman offense. At the same time, the Crimson offense which usually goes into hiding in non-league games showed signs of life.

"I'm very pleased with our performance." Harvard Coach Edie Mabrey said. "We certainly had our share of chances, we just couldn't score."

It was a freak chance that let the Minutemen do their own scoring in yesterday's first half. With 24 minutes gone. Megan Donnely took a penalty corner pass and sent it careening towards the Crimson net. But after the shot hit the net post, a Crimson stick inadvertantly sent it back in, giving UMass the only score it would need.

The only other tally in the defensive struggle came seven minutes into the second half, when Chris Kocot weasled her way through the Harvard defense and tallied UMass's second goal.

"Last Saturday's game gave us the confidence we needed for Ivy games." Mullen said, referring to Harvard's 2-1 win over Ivy nemesis Dartmouth. "This game gave us the confidence that we can play with anyone."

THE NOTEBOOK: Mabrey praised the play of forwards Andy Mainelli, Linda Runyon and Alicia Clifton...For the record, Harvard had four shots on goal and UMass had six...The Crimson can move a step closer to that Ivy title when it meets Princeton at 11 a.m. Saturday on Soldier's Field.