Ranked Va. Teams Defeat W. Soccer

The weather which accompanied the Harvard women's soccer team to Williamsburg, Va., over the weekend was sad and dreary, and at the surface, so were the Crimson's results.

But whereas a minus-seven goal differential in two losses seems more on a par with the efforts of the New England Patriots, the Crimson women can at least boast of a silver lining to those gray clouds.

Saturday's 3-0 loss to seventh-ranked William and Mary (6-1-0) and Sunday's 4-0 blanking at the hands of fourteenth-ranked George Mason (7-1-0) certainly confirmed the overall superiority of the two southern teams. But the Crimson (1-2-1, 1-0-0 Ivy) brought home from Virginia some invaluable experience that should guide it along the Ivy League trail.

"I would have to say the word `determined' best fits this team right now," Coach Tim Wheaton said. "We worked hard against William and Mary, and although we're never happy with a 3-0 loss, we showed some incredible pride, desire and fight out there."

Not until midway through the second half did the Tribe gain the goal that forced open the floodgates. Sophomore All-American Natalie Neaton, kept in check most of the game by the solid marking of Crimson junior Genevieve Chelius, flicked a corner past keeper Brooke Donahoe (whose play "was one of the day's highlights," said Wheaton) with 21 minutes left in the game to make the score 1-0.

And before Harvard could reflect on its dashed upset hopes, the scoreboard read 3-0, thanks to an indirect kick conversion and a breakout goal with most of the Crimson pushing forward in search of offense.

"Their only pure goals came off of set pieces, and for us to stay with them up and down the field was quite remarkable," Wheaton said.

In contrast, George Mason never let Harvard into Sunday's game. Suffering a not-unexpected letdown, the Crimson defense surrendered a goal in the second minute, and given the situation, "it was very difficult to fight back," Wheaton said.

So with the score getting ugly, Harvard had a chance to empty its bench. Freshman Phoebe Cummings relieved Donahoe in goal in the second half, and both freshman Ellen Mormino and junior Sara Simmons got in some quality minutes.

"Of course, you always try to look on the bright side of everything," Wheaton said. "Against George Mason, it was good to note that we do have a lot of bodies that will help us in the future."

Even as his team's record slipped with the two weekend defeats, Wheaton believes he has reason to be optimistic.

The squad's schedule becomes easier, with only one more game against team currently ranked--number 10 Connecticut--and the focus of avenging the last year's and the Crimson's first-ever sub-.500 Ivy League record is readily apparent.

"We know that if we go out with the intensity we showed this weekend in every game, we can make it happen," Wheaton said.