Wood attributed it to the newfound seriousness of varsity status. "Everybody know the plays," she said. "Before you weren't sure."

Although the women have only level two varsity status--which brings them no funding, only more pool time--Pike says the team's attitude has turned around.

"There were eight or nine who deserved varsity status who felt they could leave a legacy," Pike said. "It's giving them a supporting cast of characters. We have 18 women and two more hurt. Before, we didn't always have enough to scrimmage in practice."

"This wasn't the first time we had played tonight. We've played five of six times in practice. And, to put it bluntly, the competition in practice is tougher than this tonight."

In granting the squad varsity status, Harvard became only the fourth school in the nation with a women's varsity water polo team to call its own. The other three are in California, although Princeton has a sub-varsity team, the Tiger version of level-two status.

Princeton, Brown, Queens and Slippery Rock, if the Crimson ever meets it, will provide the toughest competition for the aquawomen.

The Bruins, however, are more than just a team to beat--they are the vital team to beat. As a club team, the Crimson never topped Brown and nothing would be sweeter than finally dunking the Bruins in Harvard's second-ever varsity contest.

Brown is the Eastern water polo powerhouse. It's men's team regularly dominates non-California play and shows well in the NCAA's. Its women, keyed by Janzen and a standout goalie Audrey Wolfolk, are starting a dynasty of their own, and Harvard's aquawomen would love to play giant-killer.

Over the season the Crimson will play about 18 games (the schedule will be finalized this weekend), including a Harvard-hosted weekend tournament at Blodgett on April 7 and 8.

With Pike at the controls, a lot of seniors savoring their first appearance in the varsity limilight and a promising group of under-classmen, the future looks bright.

And constant practices cause a serious attitude towards the sport to penetrate beyond the core of the squad, a factor that will pay dividends as the season winds on.

For now, however, the new varsity athletes are revelling in their new-found success.

And you would be too if you won your first game, 22-0.