Women's Water Polo Splits Four-Contest Set

The Harvard women’s water polo spring break trip to California was a far cry from your average vacation. The Crimson played four games in just three days and won twice.

“Overall I had a great time, and it is going to help us build into the last part of our season,” junior Lauren Snyder said.

HARVARD 17, CALTECH 2

Harvard’s last game of the week was its most impressive. The Crimson (6-8, 1-2 Ivy) dominated the Beavers (0-3) from start to finish while getting goals from nine different players, including the career first strike from sophomore Julia Lam.

Junior Cassandra Forsyth led the way for Harvard with six goals. Freshman Roxanne Pinto (three) and junior captain Vivian Liao (two) also had multi-goal games.

While the offense exploded for its most prolific game of the season, freshmen goalie Ariel Delgado had an equally impressive afternoon in the cage. Delgado, who split time with sophomore Nicola Perlman this week, maintained a shutout until the final three minutes of play when Caltech notched its only two goals of the game.

“We finished off really strong with a really great win,” Snyder said.

POMONA 6, HARVARD 4

The Crimson’s second day facing California competition did not turn out well. After losing the morning game, Harvard came ready to play in the afternoon contest against Pomona (8-8).

Harvard grabbed an early 3-1 advantage, but did not score again until the fourth quarter. The Sagehens, Division III national champions in 2005, chipped away at the Crimson’s lead, tying the game at 3 in the final quarter before surging ahead.

“We started out with something to prove,” Snyder said. “But then we were playing not to lose, instead of playing to win.”

Harvard got two goals from Pinto and one apiece from Liao and sophomore Devon MacLaughlin added the other two. Perlman, who is also a Crimson magazine editor, made nine saves.

CALIFORNIA BAPTIST 8, HARVARD 1

In Wednesday’s morning game, California Baptist (19-6) overpowered Harvard in a 8-1 win. With the exception of Liao’s third-quarter goal the stat chart was filled by the dominating Lancer offense.

Cal Baptist took a commanding 4-0 lead in the first quarter and extended it to 5-0 by halftime. After Liao’s score, the Lancers ran off another three goals to close out the victory.

“We made a lot of errors that they capitalized on,” Liao said. “Any defensive game mistake we made they basically scored on.”

HARVARD 10, REDLANDS 9

Harvard began its trip with a 10-9 victory over Redlands (6-12). Although the Crimson never trailed, the Bulldogs were able to tie the score three times before Harvard finally took the lead for good.

At halftime the game was tied, 4-4, early in the fourth quarter it was tied at 6, and late in the fourth quarter Redlands evened the contest at 8.

Harvard responded with two quick goals, and though the Bulldogs got a late goal to pull within one, the Crimson was able to run the clock out and secure the win.

“We were all pretty upbeat and just fought through,” Liao said. “People really stuck their shots that game.”

Freshmen Kathryn Bilder led Harvard with three goals, while Liao and fellow captain Snyder each pitched in a pair. Forsyth, MacLaughlin, and freshman Kelly Peeler scored the other three goals.

—Staff writer Julia R. Senior can be reached at jrsenior@fas.harvard.edu.