Stickwomen Explode Over R.I.

Last year, the Harvard field hockey team tallied 10 goals all season as it struggled to a 3-8-4 mark.

But the Crimson's offense exploded in the season-opener Saturday, scoring four goals in the first half to cruise past Rhode Island, 5-1, at Soldiers Field.

The stickwomen (1-0), who didn't score more than two goals in any game last year, were led by Cindi Ersek's two goals. Char Joslin added two assists, and Sharon Landau and Kate Felsen added a goal and an assist apiece.

Ersek opened the scoring by converting a Landau cross at 8:50. After the visitors countered with their only goal of the day past Crimson goalie Denise Katsias, Felsen and Landau countered in quick succession to give Harvard a safe lead.

Landau missed a penalty shot at 23:33 but made amends 30 seconds later when she smacked home her goal off the goalie's pads.

When Julie Cohen tallied just before halftime and Ersek added her second score soon after, the Crimson had a laugher on its hands.