The women's swim team had reason to hope for a victory last night at Boston College, because the Crimson had come within nine points of the Eagles and this season the squad seemed to have the edge in the longer races. But their hopes were soon dampened as they fell to Boston College, 74-57.

The process of disillusionment began with the first event--the medley relay. The team of Gina Stuart, Liz Kelly, Laurie Downey and Sherry Lubbers spurted to a team record 4:29.47, breaking the old standard, set in 1972, by .3 seconds.

So, why the downcast faces? The time was only good enough for second place. Boston College was the better team this time around, and the Crimson sensed this before it could get its hair wet.

Stroking and Diving

B.C. dominated in the breaststroks, freestyle and butterfly led by Katy Tucker (three firsts) and Simone Carson. And the Eagles, as expected, took most of the points in diving.

"B.C. was just too strong," Coach Stephanie Walsh said after the meet. "We got them on the longer things like I thought we would," but that was not enough.

Returning

Maura Costin, returning from a back injury, placed second in both the 1000-yd. free style and the 100-yd. butterfly and won the 200-yd. individual medley. She also joined Katy Kelley, Lubbers and Downey for a first place finish in the 400-yd. freestyle relay. The winning time was 3:58.4.

Downey put the backstroke in Harvard's column with a double in the 100- and 200-yd. events. And Liz Kelly set a second team record (two in one night is not bad) in the 500 freestyle, smashing Downey's old mark of 5:24.9 by 3.2 seconds.

Some Surprises

Kelley could only manage seconds in the shorter freestyle events, however, despite strong efforts. She was up against B.C.'s Tucker, who took two of her firsts in these events. The other victory was in the 100-yd. butterfly.

Walsh was encouraged by several surprises. Peri Ozkum prevented an Eagle sweep in the diving with a second in the one-meter diving, and Sharon Beckman kicked past a B.C. competitor in the final leg of the 200 butterfly for a second place finish.

Sub-varsity

In the sub-varsity meet, no scores were kept, but that cannot hide the performance of freshman Judy Carpentier who took firsts in the 100-yd., 200-yd. freestyles and the 100-yd. butterfly.

The Crimson will host Boston University Saturday morning at the IAB. Walsh expects another tough meet but feels that the home advantage should help. "They have studs, but they don't have the depth B.C. had."