Sports Shorts

Men's Soccer: Experience, new blood will bring success

FILE PHOTO Phil Harris, SM '00, and the Elis are hoping for an Ivy title.

If history indeed repeats itself, the men's soccer team could be in trouble.The Elis, still searching for their first Ivy League title this decade, have finished one game off the pace in their last three seasons.

Now the team is determined to avoid experiencing déjà vu. "[Our past performances] have shown us that with a little more work and by applying ourselves a little better, we can finish first," coach Brian Tompkins said.

The Elis got a glimpse of their potential at the end of last season when, despite losing several key players to injury, they swept to victory in their last six games, finishing the season with a 10-6-1 record. A solid crew of returning starters, including last season's Ivy League Player of the year, Jac Gould, CC '00, and first-team All-Ivy selections Phil Harris, SM '00,
and Hiro Suzuki, BR '00, have the team in a good position to pick up right where it
left off in 1998. "There's a very good sense of
camaraderie and commitment amongst the players," Tompkins said. "Spirits and hopes are high."

A talented freshman class will aid the team in its quest. "This freshmen class is the strongest one in a while," Suzuki said. "They will make an immediate impact on our team."

The Bulldogs begin their season at the Brown-Adidas tournament on Fri., Sept. 10-Sun., Sept. 12 and open league play against Harvard on Sat., Sept. 25. The team expects tough games against last year's Ivy champ, Brown, as well as Dartmouth and Princeton. Luck, or perhaps fate, seems to be on the Bulldogs side, as several of their tougher match-ups are scheduled at home. "That sort of gives us an edge," said Tompkins. That may be all the team needs to propel them to the top of the Ivy standings.

—Sara Sani

Women's Cross Country: Bulldogs hoping that depth and youth translates into victories

Last fall ended in disappointment for the Elis, when the women's cross country team fell far short of pre-season expectations. The Bulldogs had dominated in 1997, claiming first place at ECACs and HYPs, but in 1998 they dropped to seventh in the ECAC and finished a humbling seventh at Heptagonals. This season, they are determined not to relive the frustrations of last year's campaign.

"Last year, we had problems with injuries and people not performing their best," captain Molly Imber, SY '00, said. "But we're returning some talent and we have a really strong freshman class, so we're more optimistic about this season."

The Bulldogs certainly have the depth to ascend to the top of the Ivy standings. Although they lost Ariana Kelly, MC '99, the team's top performer for the past couple seasons, the Elis return a strong corps of upperclassmen. Nancy Wolcott, BR '01, and several other starters have recovered from injuries sustained during the spring season, and 15 freshmen—an enormous number for a team that carries only seven varsity runners—also joined the squad this fall, doubling the size of last year's team.

The Bulldogs open their season in two weeks at the Fordham Fiasco, a race that takes place at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City. The Elis primed themselves for their first competition by taking a training trip to Cape Cod the week before classes began. "We had a lot of fun in Cape Cod," Imber said. "There were a ton of great trails. Most teams have to stay here to train, but it was nice that we got to get away as a team."

The Elis are also eagerly anticipating the Harvard-Princeton race, which will be held at the Yale Golf Course. The meet will be Yale's first home event in three years. Last year, the Bulldogs placed second to the Tigers at HYPs, and they hope that the home advantage will propel them past both rivals this season.

—Kate Moran

Women's Soccer: Elis looking for ECAC repeat

The women's soccer team bullied their way through the 1998 season, compiling a 13-5-1 record (4-3 Ivy) and winning in the ECAC tournament. The Elis also wreaked havoc on the record books. Their 13 victories tied the school mark for most in a season, and several players set individual records, including goalie Sarah Peterson, PC '02, who had the best save percentage in history.

The Bulldogs stand poised for another stellar season in 1999. Although Yale lost Annie Kwon, CC '99, and Jill Rubenstein, DC '99, two of their top scorers, the Elis retain captain and midfielder Danica Liberman, TD '00, midfielder Theryn Gibbons, MC '00, and midfielder Megan Strenski, MC '02, all capable of putting the ball in the net. There is also depth in the defense, with Lorelei Wall, SM '00, anchoring a stingy backfield that allowed only 13 goals last year.

Although the Bulldogs may be hampered by the absence of defender Jennifer Mendoza, BR '01, and forward Ritha Belizaire, BR '02, who are both out with injuries, the team has enough depth and versatility to compensate for the losses. "The defense has always been strong, but this year we have more people who are able to play more positions," midfielder Sara Ruiz, SY '02, said.

The Elis open their season with a trip to California to face Pacific on Fri, Sept. 10, and their first home game, against Rhode Island, follows on Wed., Sept. 15. Peterson predicts victories in both games. "We are a really close team," she said. "We have great leadership and a great senior class. We're going to be a really great team this year."

—Reilly Dibner

Back to Sports...