Sports Shorts

After a strong start, the women's soccer team hits a 0-3 skid

JULIA TIERNAN/YH Offense has been scant early on for women's soccer.

Yale's disappointing performances in the past three games have clouded the forecast for the remainder of the season. "We are on a very crucial level," Coach Rudy Meredith admitted. "We just can't make any more mistakes." According to Meredith, the Elis' lack of momentum early in the games against Hartford and Princeton seriously hurt their chance to win. "In soccer, teams that score first are more likely to win," he said.

Yale played well against the Rams through the first half, managing to hold them scoreless. "We definitely came out with more intensity than I had seen before," said captain Jen Mendoza, BR '01. "[But] we did not keep up with the intensity the whole game and I think that's why we lost it." Mendoza added that the Elis need to work on defending crosses and corner kicks. Bowie's game winner was a corner kick, and four of the five goals that Hartford scored against Yale were off crosses or corner kicks. According to Mendoza, volunteer assistant coach Mel Roth is currently helping the Bulldogs devise a better set-up on corner kicks.

The players know not to dwell on the loss as they prepare to face Army (5-2) on Sun., Sept. 24. "[Wednesday's loss] was a real bummer," Mendoza said. "But we are starting at practice with a clean slate."

Since it's only the third week of a 10-week season, there is still time to for the Bulldogs to turn things around. At the beginning of the season, they shut out Quinnipiac and Marist with a combined score of 12-0, and are hoping to inflict the same damage on Army and Central Connecticut, whom they face on Sun., Sept 24 and Tues., Sept. 26, respectively.

—Jane Gao



WOMEN'S GOLF

Bulldogs take second place at Dartmouth Invitational

While former coach Heather Daly-Donofrio, BK '91, continues to be involved with the team when she's not on LPGA tour, the team is still adjusting to its new full-time coach, Mary Moan. Jordanna Davis, ES '03, said that Moan's first weekend went well. "We're all very excited about Mary. She was great this weekend," she said.

Davis was also enthusiastic about the freshmen, calling Katie Hatsushi, TC '04, "a wonderful addition to our little team." Captain Sarah Seo, TD '02, praised Winslow for breaking the three-way tie with an 84. "Our freshmen look really good," Seo said. "They've both got a lot of talent and can step up their games when we need them to."

Though Yale's performance at the Dartmouth Invitational was strong, the general feeling among team members is that they can improve. Seo noted that the Bulldogs took second even though they didn't play up to their potential. "We know that we are just as good if not better than the Princeton team, so seeing them shoot so low [297] made us realize that we could do that just as easily," she said

Though she considers her group "a fairly young team," Moan was pleased with the players' ability to play well under pressure. Composure, she said, will be much needed down the line as the Bulldogs pursue their goal of repeating as Ivy League champions. —Jesse Izzo

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Spiking it better at home

After returning from the Nanook Classic in Alaska, the volleyball team (3-3, 0-0 Ivy) realized it prefers the comforts of the home court. The team lost two of three in Alaska, but rebounded in a convincing fashion to claim the Yale Invitational title last weekend.

In the first game of the Invite, Yale outclassed Holy Cross, a victory that Aileen Daly, SY '01, attributed to "a rebirth of team chemistry." The team passed the ball exceptionally and improved its transition play from the games in Alaska. Vanessa Herald, ES '02, led the team with ten kills. Daly had 18 assists.

Marist didn't fare any better, as Yale routed them 15-3, 15-4, 15-3. Again, Daly led the team in assists, racking up 29 and distributing passes evenly to Herald, Colette FitzGerald, SY '01, Candace Green, JE '02, and Captain Stephanie McMahon, TC '01, who combined for 29 of the team's 36 kills.

The series of weaker opponents ended Wed., Sept. 20, as Yale traveled to Fairfield. The Elis rallied in the first game against the powerful Stags but fell short, 15-11. Yale bounced back late in the third game, but their efforts proved too late. Fairfield prevailed in the final two games, 15-4 and 15-5.

In anticipation of the Ivy season that starts next month, the team is working to tighten its seams. According to Daly, the Bulldogs need to improve their transition play and work on their outside and right-side play. But with its strong senior leadership, the team should be in good shape. They play this weekend at the Rider Tournament and at the Quinnipiac Tournament the following weekend. —Eric Meizlish

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