Laxwomen Continue to Win Big

Displaying a potent attack and iron defense, the Harvard women's lacrosse team cruised to two important victories this weekend, downing Cornell, 13-6, on Saturday and Temple, 10-4, on Sunday.

The Crimson (10-2 overall, 5-0 Ivy league), are currently ranked eighth in the nation, and are most certain to rise in the poll. The team's two wins, combined with Princeton's upset over number one ranked Penn State, should move Harvard as high as a fifth or sixth rank. More importantly, the team has virtually clinched a birth in the NCAA tournament meaning they will have a chance to defend last year's crown.

A win over Dartmouth this Tuesday will give the Crimson the Ivy league title outright. The game against Cornell, however, was the last major obstacle preventing the Crimson from repeating as Ivy champs. Alhough Harvard did not get out of the blocks quickly, their overall superior play enabled them to overcome a Cornell team who held hopes of obtaining some share of the title.

"Basically, we were expecting them to be tougher than they were," Co-Captain Lila Rifaat said. "We played down to their level, especially in the first half, and it was a sluggish game."

While the team may have performed sluggishly early on, the Crimson did enjoy an 8-4 advantage at intermission. The attack was particularly sharp, with sopohomore Liz Berkery and junior Becky Gaffney spearheading the offensive surge. Gaffney, the team's center, opened up the scoring a little over a minute into the contest before Melissa Teitelman countered for Cornell. Berkery then went to work, breaking through Cornell's zone defense and tallying two consecutive goals.

"Liz played really well against Cornell, and I thought our attack overall played really well," co--captain Ceci Clark said. "Cornell played a zone, and we were successful in breaking it."

Harvard's attack did more than break Cornell's zone; it crushed it. Berkery scored again, and freshman attacker Francie Walton and senior midfielder Tracy Hackeling followed suit, building the Crimson's lead to 6--2. Cornell scored twice before the end of the first stanza, but thanks Gaffney and junior middie Buffy Hansen, Harvard was able to maintain a relatively comfortable four--goal margin.

This did not prevent coach Carole Kleinfelder, however, from administering to her troops a tongue-lashing of sorts. She demanded that her squad pick up the pace, especially on defense, and continue to pressure the Cornell cage. The Crimson responded, limiting the Big Red to two second-half goals while netting five of its own.

"The attack didn't have any trouble scoring," goalie Sarah Leary said. "We just overloaded and fired against the zone. It wasn't very effective." Crimson, 13-6 in Ithaca, N.Y.   HARVARD  8-5--13   Cornell  4-2--6

Goals: H--Liz Berkery 5, Becky Gaffney 3, Tracy Hackeling 2, Buffy Hansen, Francie Walton, Tenley Stevenson; C--Tina Hennessey 3, Melissa Teitelman, Sarah Gur, Dianne Tormey.

Assists: H--Walton 2, Berkery 2, Gaffney; C--Teitelman.

Saves: H, Sarah Leary: 8-11--19; C, Tiffy Zachos 2-x--2; C, Suzanne Caruso x-6--6. Crimson, 10-4 in New Haven, Conn.   Temple  3-1--4   HARVARD  6-4--10

Goals: T--Jane Catanzaro 3, April Ennis 1; H--Becky Gaffney 3, Buffy Hansen 2, Emily Buxton 2, Liz Berkery, Francie Walton, Sarah Downing.

Assists: T--Cary Paul; H--Becky Gaffney, Buffy Hansen.

Saves: T, Jill Marple: 3-3--6; H, Sarah Leary: 4-5--9.

Goals: H--Liz Berkery 5, Becky Gaffney 3, Tracy Hackeling 2, Buffy Hansen, Francie Walton, Tenley Stevenson; C--Tina Hennessey 3, Melissa Teitelman, Sarah Gur, Dianne Tormey.

Assists: H--Walton 2, Berkery 2, Gaffney; C--Teitelman.

Saves: H, Sarah Leary: 8-11--19; C, Tiffy Zachos 2-x--2; C, Suzanne Caruso x-6--6. Crimson, 10-4 in New Haven, Conn.   Temple  3-1--4   HARVARD  6-4--10

Goals: T--Jane Catanzaro 3, April Ennis 1; H--Becky Gaffney 3, Buffy Hansen 2, Emily Buxton 2, Liz Berkery, Francie Walton, Sarah Downing.

Assists: T--Cary Paul; H--Becky Gaffney, Buffy Hansen.

Saves: T, Jill Marple: 3-3--6; H, Sarah Leary: 4-5--9.

Goals: T--Jane Catanzaro 3, April Ennis 1; H--Becky Gaffney 3, Buffy Hansen 2, Emily Buxton 2, Liz Berkery, Francie Walton, Sarah Downing.

Assists: T--Cary Paul; H--Becky Gaffney, Buffy Hansen.

Saves: T, Jill Marple: 3-3--6; H, Sarah Leary: 4-5--9.