Sports Shorts

Men's Soccer: Elis recover from upsets with decisive victory over St. John's

Sharpshooter Jac Gould, CC '00, will try to penetrate a stingy Lion defense. JULIA TIERNAN/YH

The timely breaks and superb play late in games that characterized the men's soccer team's first eight match-ups have disappeared as quickly as the good weather in New Haven. A 3-2 home defeat to previously winless Dartmouth on Sat., Oct. 9, and a 1-0 loss at Fairfield on Wed., Oct. 13, halted the momentum that the Elis had built during a 7-1 start, as the Elis' usual clutch play down the stretch deserted them.

After forward Jac Gould, CC '00, and defenseman Stuart Yingst, BK '03, gave Yale a 2-0 lead over the Big Green 3:34 into the game, the Elis' offense did not produce a goal for the remainder of the contest. This was a surprise, since the team had scored 16 of its previous 20 goals in the second half. The defense also faltered, allowing Dart-mouth's Nick Magnuson '01 to net a goal only 24 seconds after Yingst scored. "Letting them get back so quickly after Stu's goal really took the wind out of our sails," Coach Brian Tompkins said. Even more devastating was defender Brian Lavin's, PC '02, inadvertent header into his own goal with 9:51 remaining.

Four days later, the Elis traveled to Fairfield, where they suffered a loss despite out-shooting the Stags 18-2. Although such a loss is potentially demoralizing, Tompkins does not think it will affect the Bulldogs' outlook. "We do a good job of balancing the emotional response of the game with the intellectual response," he said. "We played some of our best soccer of the year, but we just didn't finish. Sometimes, despite your best effort, a team finds a way to beat you."

On Wed., Oct. 20, the Bulldogs assumed their usual position atop the victor's block, defeating 13th-ranked St. John's 2-0 on the strength of goals by midfielder/forward Jay Alberts, SY '03, and midfielder Hiro Suzuki, BR '00. The squad travels south to New York to face Columbia on Sat., Oct. 23, which boasts a 9-3 record and has split its four Ivy contests.

—Jonathan Berkon

Women's Soccer: Bulldogs remain optimistic in spite of bleak record

Coming off one of the most successful seasons in the team's history, Yale women's soccer had high expectations when they hit the field this September. After tying the record for wins (13) and setting the record for fewest goals allowed (13) during the 1998 season, the Bulldogs expected to be one of the toughest competitors for the 1999 Ivy League Championship. But with a record of 4-4-2 overall and 1-1-2 in the Ivy League, it is clear that the Elis are far from dominating the league this year.

However, mere statistics fail to paint a true picture of their effort in recent competitions. "Our record is not very good, but it doesn't reflect the games," midfielder Meg Sullivan, CC '00, said. "It's been such a frustrating season because the games have been so close." None of the team's losses have been by more than one goal. What seems to be the problem? The team just isn't scoring. "We need to finish [our plays] and create chances," Sullivan said.

In light of their 9-0 victory over Central Connecticut on Wed., Oct. 20, and their 0-0 tie with Dartmouth on Sat., Oct. 16, for which goalie Sarah Peterson, PC '02, received a mention on the Ivy Honor Roll, the Bulldogs are aware that they still have the potential to win. The team will meet up with Hartford and the University of Connecticut, two opponents they have never defeated and would love to upset. In addition, three Ivy League games still remain, in which the Elis can work their way up in the standings and maintain their pride.

As for achieving victory in the second half of the season, the Elis are relying on their unity and positive attitudes to carry them along. "Despite our record, we're still optimistic," midfielder Emily Putnam, ES '00, said. "We've been keeping it together as a team and have yet to play a game where there has been a lack of either effort or intensity." Perhaps just a slight increase in effort and intensity could give the Elis the boost they need to turn their marginal overall record into a winning season.

—Alison Morris

Men's Lacrosse: Hosting fall tournament

Eli football's annual war with Harvard does not take place until the end of November, but the men's lacrosse team will battle it out with the Cantabs at the Yale Fall Lacrosse Classic on Sun., Oct. 24. In addition to Harvard, Yale invited Hartford, Fairfield, Bucknell, and Colgate for what promises to be "a great day of lacrosse," according to Coach Mike Waldvogel.

The tournament presents a chance for the team to experiment with different combinations on offense and defense. "[It] will be a good preseason scrimmage," Waldvogel said. "Other teams have already had games, but this weekend is an opportunity for us to try different lineups and see what works best." The back-to-back games will also help goalie Adam Oppenheimer, SM '02—who replaces All-American Joe Pilch, SM '99—get accustomed to his role as a starter. The defense will look to All-American and All-Ivy defenseman Don Gerne, BR '00, for leadership, while midfielder Nick Milone, SY '00, and attackman Chris McIntyre, SY '00, should be strong leaders on the attack.

The Bulldogs are a young team, but they are by no means inexperienced. There are only five seniors on the roster, but most of the sophomores played last year. "We have a lot of strength, offensively and defensively, and we can do well this weekend," midfielder Will McClelland, DC '02, said. "We can beat Harvard. I'm really excited and definitely looking forward to it."

Proceeds from the tournament will go to the Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital.

—Reilly Dibner

Around the Ivies

Columbia football: Lions fall

On Sat., Oct. 23, the Yale football team travels to Manhattan to face Columbia (2-3, 0-2 Ivy), routed by Pennsylvania (3-2, 2-0 Ivy) last weekend. After a tight first half which ended with the Quakers ahead, 21-17, Penn ignited in the last two quarters, outscoring the Lions 20-0. The Quakers accumulated a whopping 626 offensive yards, nearly tripling Columbia's paltry 241-yard offensive effort.

Columbia men's soccer: Lionized

The Bulldog offense will have to be at its sharpest when it travels to Columbia (9-3, 2-2 Ivy) on Sat., Oct. 23. Only four of the Lions' 12 opponents have scored on the Light Blue. The offense has been equally potent. Forward Leslie Fitzpatrick '01 has recorded at least one point in 11 of the Lions' 12 games, and Forward Michael Ching '03 received Ivy League Rookie of the Week honors after netting two goals in Columbia's 3-2 defeat of Marist. He also assisted on one goal in the Lions' 2-0 victory over Army.

—Compiled by Kate Moran

Eli Almanac: Sat., Oct. 22, 1949

Fifty years ago this week, the Yale football team entered a contest with Holy Cross expecting to give the victory-starved Purple Knights a thorough drubbing. But the Knights put up their shields and warded off Yale's offensive blows, managing to hold the Elis to a score of 7-7 in the first three quarters.

As the fourth quarter began, the Cross looked to pull ahead when Don Moriarty picked off a pass from Eli quarterback Stu Tisdale, CC '51, at the Blue 22-yard line. The Knights penetrated to the one-yard line, where the Bulldogs recovered the ball by blocking a toss from Holy Cross quarterback Paul Gallo.

In the game's waning minutes, the Elis traveled 99 yards on the strength of a 68-yard carry by Levi Jackson, TC '50, to score a touchdown for the 14-7 win.

—Kate Moran

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