Aquawomen Attempt to Drown the West

The Harvard women's water polo team is hoping to convince people that water polo is no longer just a West Coast sport.

Teams such as California-Santa Barbara and California-San Diego have long dominated women's collegiate water polo. However, the Crimson is improving, generating more interest and even gaining national attention.

Captains: Leslie Barbi, Lynley Ogilvie and Eileen Pratt

Current Record: 3-0

Home Pool: Blodgett Pool

This year an all-time high of more than 30 women came out for the team. The Athletic Department limits the team roster to 25 and so cuts had to be made for the first time ever.

"[Turning people away] was the worst thing I ever had to do as a coach," Harvard Coach Chris Hafferty said. "It was personally depressing to me to have to cut people who are willing to learn, work hard, and make a commitment to the sport."

Tryouts for the squad were a little different than for most other sports. It was not simply a matter of evaluating how well someone can shoot or if they can play tough defense. It was the task of measuring untapped potential.

"No one on the team played before college," Tri-Captain Eileen Pratt said. "This is unusual because most people in other sports here have played at least since freshman year in high school."

Most of the women on the team have strong swimming backgrounds and have simply decided to try something new. Teaching these newcomers the game of water polo is one of the things Hafferty does and enjoys most.

"They don't come in with any bad habits," Hafferty said.

The Harvard women appear to be very fast learners. In a pre-season poll conducted by the United States Water Polo Scoreboard Magazine, Harvard was ranked 10th out of the 46 colleges with varsity teams. The Crimson was dubbed "the team of the future in the East."

In the past, most of the practice time was spent on learning the basics. Ball skills and shooting were top priority. But, this year the Crimson has lost only one starter and has a good core of veteran players.

Coming back for the Crimson are two excellent two-meter players, Tri-Captain Lynley Ogilvie and senior Emily Ozer, as well as Stacey Moran, an excellent driver.

"They were stellar last year and we expect them to be strong again," Tri-Captain Leslie Barbi said.

Starting in goal for the third straight year will be senior Tamsyn Seimon, who played her freshman year but did not take up netminding until she was a sophomore. Back-up goalie Amy Sanders will provide depth.

Sink or Swim

Seimon's strong throwing arm combined with the field players speed should give the Crimson one of the top counterattacks in the East.

"We have more experience and are dealing more with strategy this year," said Pratt.

Harvard opened its season on March 15, with a come from behind, 10-9, victory over 16th ranked MIT. The victory over the Engineers' strong club team dispelled more than a few doubts a bout the Crimson.

"Until you see them [the team] play a game you are not sure how they will do," Hafferty said. "We now know what we are capable of doing."

Eastern Blues

Last year the Crimson had a disappointing Eastern tournament. It finished third amongst varsity squads and lost to a few club teams. Because the team did not place in the top two it did not qualify for Nationals as it had in 1986.

This year should be different.

"Our first goal is to be at least second at Easterns and get an invitation to Nationals," Pratt said.

Easterns will be held here at Blodgett pool from April 30 to May 1. Nationals are scheduled for May 13-15 in Annapolis, Maryland.

The two teams which can possibly cancel Harvard's trip south, are Slippery Rock and Bucknell. Slippery Rock is ranked fourth nationally and looks very strong.

Bucknell is just ahead of Harvard in the rankings, holding the number nine spot, and the two teams appear about evenly matched. It looks like the Crimson will have to slay the Bison to achieve its goal.

"We should have the talent to qualify [for nationals] in the East," Hafferty said. "We have so many people with natural speed and ability that it is just a matter of how good they want to be."

With so many players to add depth, there is no real limit to what the Crimson can do this year.

"I've been on the team for four years now," Ogilvie said, "and this is the best team I've ever played with."

With the determination the squad showed in its come-from-behind win against MIT and its defeat of Brown two weeks ago, the Crimson might just be able to focus the attention of the water polo world on the East Coast rather than the West. 1988 WOMEN'S WATER POLO SCHEDULE

April Fri. 8  HARVARD Sun. 10  INVITATIONAL Fri. 15  at Brown Sat. 16  Invitational Fri. 22  at MIT Sat. 23  Invitational Sat. 30  EASTERN CHAMPIONSHIPS

May Sun. 1  EASTERN CHAMPIONSHIPS