Terriers Stop Aqua women

The Harvard women's swimming team opened its season with a narrow 76-64 loss to host Boston University last night.

With both senior Co-Captains Cary Mazzone and Anita Rival in the bleachers with injuries, freshmen dominated all the Crimson's first place victories. But that wasn't enough for the aqua women to overcome a victory by the Terriers, who needed a win in the evening's final race to secure the triumph.

The Boston University win spoiled the coaching debut of Harvard's Maura Costing.

Close Shave

The consistently strong work of divers Jennifer Goldberg and Shannon Byrd, together with the first and second place finishes of freshmen Karen Dehmer and Michelle Engh in the Individual Medley, kept the Cantabs close and brought the score to 69-64 with only the 400-meter freestyle relay left.

But the Terrier team toppled the Crimson relay crew by a half a pool's length to secure the season-opening victory for both squads.

Meanwhile, Harvard freshmen Molly Clark and Lisa Schanwecker led the Crimson to victories in the 100 breaststroke and 500 freestyle, respectively.

B.U., which placed fourth in the Eastern Championships a year ago (Harvard was eighth), has now ruined the beginning of the Crimson season for the last four years. At last year's B.U. Harvard meet, the Terriers severely trounced the Crimson, 86-54.

"I was happily surprised at how close it was," Costin said. "Even the B.U. coach came up to me and told me how strong we looked."

THE NOTEBOOK: B.U. broke its school records in the 200 butterfly and backstroke last night.