Ranked foes knock off Bulldogs to start year

In athletics, scores often do not accurately reflect the nature of the game. The women's field hockey team's games are no exception. Their current record is 0-7, but a closer look at the competition, the close scores of the games, and amount of overtime play tells a different story; the cold record is not a true reflection of their hard work and skill.

JULIA TIERNAN/YH Captain Anne Rippetoe, TD '01, has started every game in her three years at Yale.

The Bulldogs lost their seventh straight game to Holy Cross, 3-0, at Yale. The team was again discouraged by their seeming inability to win games, but they have by no means discounted the entire season. The manner in which the Bulldogs have lost, as well as the level of their competition, puts their losing record in a new context.

The Bulldogs' losses thus far have come to three teams ranked in the top 20 by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association and they have also played only one Ivy League game. The Bulldogs played Princeton, which is currently ranked No. 9 in the country, and lost 3-0. No. 13 William and Mary beat Yale 6-1 on Sun., Sept. 10. Yale played No. 14 Boston College last Sunday and lost 2-1, but the game was described by Head Coach Ainslee Lamb as the Bulldogs' best thus far. "Although we cannot seem to pull off a win, part of that may be attributed to our level of competition; every team we have played is either ranked in the top 20 or is good enough to be," defender Kara Nesburg, PC '02, said. Rachel Burnes, BR '03, added, "So far in the season we have only played one Ivy League team, which means we are 0-1 in our league and have six more Ivy League teams to beat."

In the face of their string of losses, it will be a challenge for the team to remain optimistic and focused, but the Bulldogs' coaching staff and seniors remain upbeat. The team is not making any drastic changes, but is focusing on plain hard work and improvement. Captain Anne Rippetoe, TD '01, said, "The team camaraderie is as good now as it has ever been on any Yale team I have been on, and I think it will help to get us through this rough patch."

Rippetoe mentioned that the team is adjusting to a new system of play, a system which involves concentrating offensive play and encouraging more communication in the back-field. Rippetoe feels that the team has faith in the new system, as well as in the coaching staff in general. According to Burnes, "We have real confidence in both of our coaches, as well as in each other, and that helps in every game."

Field Hockey

Record:0-7 (0-1 Ivy) Recent Results: Lost vs. Holy Cross 3-0 Coming Up: Sat., Sept. 30 at Cornell

This trust in the coaching staff is perhaps one of the biggest assets the squad has. Lamb and Assistant Coach Pam Neiss are a constant source of strength for the team. "We are all remarkably happy and confident right now, and one reason is the coaches— they are tireless," Nesburg said. "Every loss simply convinces them that they, and not just us, need to work harder. They are great about keeping a humorous atmosphere on the field and off, although they are definitely very intense and focused when they need to be."

Another important source of strength for the team is Rippetoe's unflagging optimism. One of the adjustments made by Lamb was to change the lineup so that Rippetoe could play sweeper, giving her the heavy responsibility of leading communication on the field and controlling the team's defense. "This change has made a huge difference in our effectiveness," Nesburg said. These changes, as well as the optimism of the coaching staff and the captain, are helping the Bulldogs to look forward to the remainder of their games and view the past seven games as a learning experience.

"We take advantage of the challenging level of play," Burnes said. "Our six remaining Ivy League games are what count." The competition will be stiff within the Ivy League. Two Ivy League teams are currently ranked in the top 20—Princeton and Harvard—and the Bulldogs have already played Princeton closely. The Bulldogs will challenge archrival Harvard on Sat., Oct. 14 in Cambridge, but will face perennial Ivy foes Cornell, Dartmouth, and Columbia prior to the Harvard game.

Despite a discouraging beginning to the season, the field hockey team could serve as an example for other Bulldog teams; its members continue to be hopeful and upbeat, and are looking forward to improving upon their record and winning their first game. The Bulldogs will have that opportunity as they face Cornell this Saturday in Ithaca.

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