Sports Shorts

With fall season over, Elis look back to successes at ECACs and BU

COURTESY SPORTS PUBLICITY The tennis team has relied on Andrea Goldberg, TD '02.

At the ECAC championship, the Yale women continued their strong play. In the first round they beat West Virginia, 6-1. In the second round they were edged out by Princeton, but according to Andrea Goldberg, TD '02, the number-one player on Yale's team, this loss was not demonstrative of the team's true ability. "Losing to Princeton was a positive experience because it made us see holes in our approach to matches," Goldberg said. "Ability and skill-wise, we were as good as Princeton was, if not better—we just couldn't believe it." The team bounced back in their next match to defeat James Madison University, 5-2 and then placed fifth overall at ECACs. "We were really proud of beating West Virginia and JMU since they were both really good teams," Biffy Kaufman, SY '03, said.

Over Parents' Weekend, the Elis were victorious in their dual match against Boston University. It was a tight battle that was dead even until the number-four match was won by Margaret Purcell, CC '04, who overcame a leg cramp to give the team a 4-3 victory.

The Elis boast a roster of talented women from each class. With a strong group of six freshman added this year to the solid core of more experienced players, the team has a good balance. The promise of Yale's younger players is exemplified by the undefeated doubles team of twin freshmen Karlyn Martin, JE '04, and Ashley Martin, JE '04.

Goldberg believes the only thing holding the women's tennis back from a perfect fall season was not setting their goals high enough. "Princeton is the type of team we're capable of beating; we just need to have a sense of expecting to win. I expect us to win the Ivies," Goldberg said. "We need to go into this spring expecting to win."

—Katie Cole



FIELD HOCKEY

Disappointing season draws to a close at Brown

The field hockey team hopes to utilize the long-awaited practice and recovery time they had this week in the Sat., Nov. 4, away game against Brown, the season's last contest. The team must capitalize on the experience it gained from last weekend's trip to North Carolina.

Yale traveled to play Duke and the University of Virginia. Although they headed home to New Haven with two losses, the weekend was anything but discouraging. The Bulldogs' loss to UVA, ranked ninth in the nation, was only by one goal. In the Duke game, Yale maintained a lead on a goal by Christine Anthony, SM '01, with seven minutes remaining; unfortunately, Duke scored two quick goals and captured a 3-1 victory.

Saturday showed that we can outplay the best teams in the country," Captain Anne Rippetoe, TD '01, said. "But those teams showed why they are so good: they were able to capitalize big in those few minutes that we let down." The Bulldogs lost 3-1 to Duke; all goals were scored on momentary lapses during corners. Goalie Krissy Nesburg, SM '04, had 17 saves on the weekend.

Having faced two of the best teams in the nation, the Bulldogs go into this weekend with an all-out effort; their goal is to capture the third Ivy win of the season. Brown (9-6 , 2-4 Ivy) is a strong team, but one which the Bulldogs are capable of beating. "We definitely think we can with the game, especially because Brown has lost to Columbia, who we beat," said Kara Nesburg, PC '02. The Brown game is important for the Elis because it is not only the culmination of the season, but is also the final chance for a Bulldog victory for the team's four seniors. Nesburg emphasized that "they are the most dedicated, hard-working group of athletes that I have ever played with."

—Darcy Wiecks



MEN'S ULTIMATE

Frosty Frisbees

Both Harvard and Williams beat Yale en route to the finals. "Harvard surprised us," Co-captain Noah Kolman, MC '01, said. "They played very, very well. They haven't been that good in the past."

The weather set the pace for the tournament. "It certainly wasn't a pleasure to play in," Jason Arroyo, BR '02, said. "It lowered the level of play." Players had to worry as much about staying warm as catching the frisbee. "Ultimate changes when its cold and windy," Kolman said. "It's harder to catch, and harder to throw. It makes you lose your focus."

Yale finished 2-2 on the day, with wins over Vassar and the Süperfly alumni team. "It felt great to beat the alumni. That was one of our major goals," said Joey Ax, MC '01, the only senior on team aside from Co-captains Kolman and Asher Price, MC '01. Wesleyan and Columbia rounded out the eight-team field.

"We were happy, not necessarily with the results, but with the improvement," Kolman said. "We're playing a lot better than we were a few weeks ago. In each game of the tournament we clicked just a little better."

Next weekend the team heads to Brown for their final tournament of the fall season.

—Geoff Chepiga

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