'Cliffe Water Polo Stops Wellesley, 7-6

After surrendering an early 4-1 advantage, the Radcliffe water polo team staged two do-or-die comebacks and hung on to defeat Wellesley, 7-6, in double overtime, for its first victory after a hectic ebb and flow in its fortunes in the IAB last night.

At the game's outset, it hardly appeared that two overtimes would be necessary to decide the contest. Jane McNamara and Kris Krendl goals in the opening period gave Radcliffe an early 2-0 lead, and McNamara's second tally early in the second frame made it 3-0.

Early in the second half, however, with the score 4-1 (on an Emily Kane goal for the 'Cliffe) the Radcliffe players were slowed to a dog paddle.

Quicker than you can say Don Schollander, Wellesley had registered three quickies to tie the game after three periods, and then the visitors scored their fourth successive goal early in the final frame to forge ahead for the first time.

With regulation time rapidly drifting away, and Radcliffe missing more than one good scoring opportunity, the Crimson finally got a break.

After receiving a clearing pass from Karen Bromberg, McNamara found Maureen Murphy breaking free behind the Wellesley net, and the Radcliffe senior wasted little time in knotting the score with barely a minute remaining.

In the first of two overtime periods that ensued, Wellesley again took the lead, 6-5, but McNamara connected for the bathing cap trick soon afterwards to tie the score for the third time.

In the second overtime, the freshman co-captain scored her fourth goal of the night, on an assist from Murphy, to give Radcliffe the final lead of the night.

"It was the best game I've ever seen them play," Coach Keith Raffel '72 said after the game. "It was so hectic, however, that I don't know if I can take another one." Added co-captain Jane Hendricks, "We finally played as a team, and not as individuals."

Radcliffe splashes on this afternoon at UMass.