Three deep in material for the first time over, Radcliffe's varsity field hockey squad may be the most numerous any college has had since Princeton, 85 years ago, abandoned the sport as too dangerous for growing boys to play.

Coach Patricia Watkins, directing practice at the Quadrangle Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, finds 35 to 40 players ready with sticks and shinguards. More than half are considered first-string possibilities.

She is not disturbed by a shortage of experienced forwards. "We have a strong backfield," she reports. "My tentative solution is to convert a few of the fast halfbacks to wing positions."

Nucleus of Nine

The current A squad includes nine veterans of last year's team and twelve freshmen. The 1946 club, which had a record of two wins, two ties, and only one loss, bequeathed to this year's team such players as Joan Projansky '49, president of the Athletic Association: Sallie Hope Brown '50, chairman of the hockey committee; Ann Clark '49, a first-class goalie; Patricia Hughes '49, Holen Duker '49, Carol Jones '49, Hope Ingersoll '50, Nina Emerson '50, and Noroen Koller '50.

Freshmen, all of whom won letters in secondary school competition, represent such minor league teams as Winsor, Buck such minor league teams as Winsor, Buckingham, Bryn Mawr School, Albany Academy, and Bolmont High. The most promising among them are Jean McCormick, Ann Loomis, Joan Gardiner, Mary Connor, Penny Hughes, Valentine Loring, Jennifer Post, Cynthia Williams, Rosamond Johnson, Enid Maslon, and Mary Brandt.

Radcliffe opens its season at the annual play day get-together of 15 colleges, scheduled this year for Beaver Country Day School October 25. This is a clinic for coaches and prospective officials and short games are played with opponents selected by the toss of a quarter.

Other Tilts Slated

Other dates are Jackson at Radcliffe, October 30; Pembroke at Radcliffe, November 3; and the Flickers-a Boston Hockey Club eleven-at Radcliffe, November 7. Pine Manor and an international students' team are other prospective opponents.

Radcliffe took up field hockey, with a murmur of "Sissy" in Princeton's direction, about 50 years ago. The Annex girls of those days played the game in coat sweaters buttoned up to here and droopy bloomers extending down to about here. The 1947 stick-swingers wear cherry tunics and shorts.

As a varsity sport, hockey players win points for athletic competition. Enough of them entitle the athlete to a Radcliffe blazer and smaller totals earn numerals, a shield, or a bright red "R."