Defensive Laxwomen Blast Brown, 16-3

Scoring three points in football or three hoops in basketball just doesn't make headlines.

But scoring a hat trick in lacrosse is a big deal.

Three players on the same team pulling off a hat trick in one game is an even bigger deal.

All three seniors on the women's lacrosse team tallied three goals apiece as the Harvard's women's lacrosse trounced Brown, 16-3, yesterday at Soldiers Field.

The Crimson is currently undefeated in the Ivies and ranked seventh in the nation. Yesterday's victory boosted Harvard's record to 7-3 over-all (4-0 Ivy).

"It was very windy and it was tough passing, which made it a sloppy game," Katie McAnaney said. "We were slow in the first half until Leelee [Groome] scored the first goal and got us going."

Harvard's leading scorers were sharp-shooting seniors Cindi Ersek, Kate Felsen and Groome. Co-Captains Groome and Ersek tallied three goals apiece. Felsen joined her fellow seniors in the scoring parade with three goals of her own despite extra attention from the Bruin defense.

"They assigned a face guard to play on Kate, opening up our other players," McAnaney said.

Brown's preoccupation with Felsen allowed Jennifer Gifford enough elbow room to net her first two goals of the season. The rest of Harvard's goals were shared among Lisa Baillier, Char Joslin, Nicole Dehoratius, and Katie McAnaney.

"Everyone was able to play and everyone was really into it," McAnaney said.

The Bruins scored all of their points in the first few minutes of the game. The Crimson then regrouped and dominated the rest of the game. A shift from man-to-man on defense to zone in the second half was successful as Harvard closed the Bruins down for the rest of the game.

Currently leading the Ivy league in saves, Harvard goalie Kelly Dermody blocked numerous shots to pull the second half shut out. Julia French and Maggie Vaughn played exceptional defense to limit Brown's few scoring opportunities.

The Crimson fields a squad that includes 11 sophomores, but Harvard's three seniors are in no way overshadowed by the young majority.

"We have three seniors that do a lot on the attack," McAnaney said.

The Crimson women expect to beat Yale in Friday's match-up in New Haven. The team will then take on Maryland. A victory over Maryland will clinch a bid to the ECAC tournament, Harvard's route to the NCAA playoffs.

Harvard travels to Dartmouth Tuesday on the road to its second consecutive Ivy League title.