With only one loss, ladies' lax still in Ivy race

JULIA TIERNAN/YH Megan Strenski(3), MC '02, is a force for Yale's defensive end, while consistent scoring from Katherine Myers (24), PC '01, gives Yale an offensive edge.

If Walton regrets hitting her sister, her teammates are certainly not sorry for giving a beating to Harvard, or to any other team, for that matter. After defeating Harvard,
10-9, and Boston College, 17-7, this past week, the women's lacrosse team stands at 8-1 and looks to be a prime contender for the Ivy League title.

Princeton and Dartmouth are the biggest obstacles in the Elis' conquest for the Ivy crown this year. Both teams are undefeated within the Ivy League, while Yale has already dropped a game to Dartmouth, 9-13. The Elis could still capture the title, however, if Princeton and Dartmouth, who have yet to face each other, each lose a game as well. "If we want to win the Ivies," captain Alison Cole, ES '99, said, "Dartmouth has to lose to someone. If we beat Princeton, it'll be a three-way tie. It's not just about how we play, it's how the other teams play."

Though they are greatly underestimated, Harvard could be the wild card in the title race. "Harvard is much better than they get credit for,"coach Mandy O'Leary, said, "One of their best players is on the hockey team, so she missed the earliest part of the season, and coaches didn't give them the consideration they deserve." If Harvard is able to upset Princeton or Dartmouth, Yale will be one step closer to the league championship.

The Elis will look to stage an upset of their own on Sat., Apr. 10, when they face Princeton, the 5th-ranked team in the NCAA. Princeton's roster boasts some of the nation's top lacrosse players, including Christi Samaras '99, a member of the national team. The Tigers do not rely solely on the talents of one athlete, however. "Princeton is such a solid team," O'Leary, said, "They have so many players who can score. It's not like you can take one person out of the game and you're going to win. Everyone has to play good defense."

If any team has the talent to shut down the Tigers, it's certainly the Elis. Heather Bentley, SY '00, and Walton, who have combined for over sixty goals, lead an explosive offense that includes other potent goal scorers such as Alyssa Chen, TD '99, Kate Flatley, SY '01, and ClarA Gillespie, PC '01. These last three attackers were important in securing Yale's win over Harvard this week, and the team needs them to step-up if another win is in order.

"Harvard face-guarded Heather Bentley and held her to one goal. We needed other players to step up and they answered the call," O'Leary said. "Vanessa Kerry [a defender],PC '99, had three goals, Amanda had two, and Kate and Claire each had two as well."

The Elis, however, cannot rely solely on their offensive power to defeat Princeton. They will also have to perfect their midfield game, which has been sloppy in the last several match-ups. "We had problems in the midfield in the first half [of the BC game]," defender Megan Strenski, MC '02, said. "We had problems keeping possession and marking the ball coming down. We also have to work on clearing up the midfield. Once we get the ball into our offensive end we are capable of scoring goals." Attacker Erin Porta, MC '99, added, "Our midfield turnovers were bad. And BC passed around our defense in the midfield."

While offensive firepower and solid play in the midfield are necessary if Yale is to defeat Princeton, most important is the team's confidence when they step onto the field. Several players believe that the Elis lost to Dartmouth because they were not mentally prepared for the match.

"We looked scared going into the match," Tara Malloy, PC '99, said. "And we missed a lot of opportunities in the beginning of the game." Back-up goalie C.K. Barber, DC '02, added, "We didn't come out confident against Dartmouth. Instead of going for ground balls, we said, `We're going to play good defense when Dartmouth wins the ball,' and that's the wrong kind of aggressiveness. It'll be all about heart and hustle against Princeton."

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