Playing against a stronger and more experienced Northeastern squad, the Radcliffe waterpolo team lost its spring season opener, 7-4, Monday night in the IAB. Goalie Laura Garwin cited lack of practice and lack of team play as the principle causes of the defeat.

"We're not upset by this loss. We've beaten them twice, but that was during the fall season." In the fall, Radcliffe plays waterpolo under collegiate rules. In the spring, which is not considered a college waterpolo season, Radcliffe plays under the looser AAU rules. The AAU game is much more violent than the college version. According to RoAnn Costin, another team member, this also contributed to Radcliffe's defeat.

"They were really good at fouling and getting away with it. In AAU play there is one referee instead of two. So there was a lot of underwater stuff going on that the ref couldn't see. We swam better than they did, but they were certainly more aggressive. And stronger."

Basically Radcliffe draws its players from the swimming team, so that the quickness and strength needed for waterpolo come easily. The difficulties are in the fundamentals of passing and positioning.

Monday night was the first the entire team had played together. This week practices have started, so that the team will have some time to get itself organized into a working unit for its game against UMass-Amherst Tuesday.