Stickwomen Squeak Past Crusaders

It was a turf day for the Harvard field hockey team yesterday.

Yes, it was also a tough day, but astroturf was the most important aspect of the Crimson's 1-0 squeaker over Holy Cross yesterday in Worcester, Mass.

"In general, it was not one of our better games," Harvard Co-Captain Char Joslin said, "but it was the first time we've won on turf in my four years here."

Tennis, Anyone?

The Crimson (6-2 overall, 2-0 Ivy) scored its lone tally after a frantic flurry of point-blank shots early in the second half.

Off a corner hit, senior forward Lisa Cutone hit the ball out to sophomore forward Loren Ambinder. Ambinder's shot on goal bounced off the Holy Cross goalie's pads to senior forward Sharon Landau. Landau's scoring attempt was deflected back to Ambinder, whose next shot rebounded off the goalie's pads to Landau again.

Finally, Landau put the ball in the net.

"It was like playing tennis on a backboard," Ambinder said.

However, all was not rosy for Harvard. The Crimson lost the services of junior forward Anne van Dykum,whose right thumb was broken when she was hit withthe ball while covering the sideline.

"Anytime you lose a starter, it always throws ateam off a little," Ambinder said. "The goals [vanDykum] has scored have been important ones--thefirst one against Yale, and also against UPenn.The roles are going to have to be switched now."

Ambinder added, "There's also team morale.We're a really tight team. But I think she'll beback. She's a fighter."

Although the Crimson had a lacklusterperformance, it controlled the action throughoutthe game. Its defense allowed only two cornersthroughout the contest.

"We were dominating in lots of little ways,"Joslin said, "but they didn't materialize in termsof numbers."

The Crimson's offense faltered against theCrusaders, something they will have to turn aroundin the future.

"We have to work on getting more consecutivepasses--keeping possesion," Ambinder said.

There weren't many positive aspects to thegame, but the win on turf still looms large.Harvard's next game will be October 14 againstCornell in Ithaca, N.Y.

On turf.

"I don't think Cornell is going to be thatstrong, but we'll have to keep our intensity up,"Joslin said