In Warm Up, Offense Breaks Through Against Connecticut

The Harvard women’s water polo team snapped a four game losing streak with a 17-6 win over Connecticut College Saturday afternoon in New London. For the Crimson (11-11, 3-5 CWPA Northern Division), it was the final game before returning home for the crucial Northern Division Championships to be held next weekend. With at least a second-place finish at that tournament, Harvard will clinch a spot at the Eastern Championships a week later in Providence.

“It is always good to go into a big important tournament coming off a positive experience,” freshman driver Julia Lam said.

Senior 2M-O Molly Mehaffey, who is also a Crimson editor, scored five goals to lead an offensive onslaught against the Camels (4-3). Sophomore 2M-D Lauren Snyder and sophomore driver Melissa Mueller each scored twice, while eight other players scored one goal for the Crimson.

“Everyone played very well,” Harvard coach Erik Farrar said. “Everybody got in, got some playing time, which is important come tournament time.”

The Crimson led 5-3 after a fast-paced first quarter, but its defense was able to tighten up and hold Connecticut College scoreless for the next two quarters. On offense, Harvard scored three goals in each of the second and third quarters to build an 11-3 lead.

“We gave up some 6-on-5’s in the first quarter,” Farrar said. “We made some adjustments after that.”

Harvard’s superior depth allowed it to pull away quickly.

“We are much deeper than they are,” Farrar said. “We were able to wear them down as the game went on.”

Freshman Nicola Pearlman made three saves in net for the team.

By facing a team that had rarely been a problem for it in the past, the Crimson was able to use this game to help prepare for Northerns.

“This game allowed us to work on some things going into the postseason,” Farrar said. “We got to experiment with a few things. We are where we need to be going into the postseason.”

Farrar used his team’s depth to throw many different looks at the Camels.

“[Coach] put us in different combinations that we had not really been in before,” Lam said. “We played really well together.”

In the Northern Division Championships, the top two teams in the tournament receive an automatic bid to Eastern Championships. Harvard will be the number three seed. Hartwick, the five-time defending division champion, is the top-seeded team. Brown will be the second seed. The Bears have already beaten the Crimson three times this year, most recently 10-6 in Providence last Saturday.

To receive an automatic bid to Easterns, Harvard will probably need to beat Brown when the teams play next Saturday. Although it may still receive an at-large berth if it loses, the Crimson does not want to leave it to chance.

“You never want to put yourself in an at-large position,” Farrar said. “It is much more satisfying to play your way in.”

Last year Harvard finished fifth at Easterns.

—Staff writer Ted Kirby can be reached at tjkirby@fas.harvard.edu.