The Harvard women's swimming team triumphed in its Ivy opener, edging Columbia Saturday, 73-69.

Tuesday, the aquawomen easily downed Boston College to open the year with a victory, but this weekend's contest marked the squad's first tough competition of the season.

"We knew we were a better team going into the meet, but we knew they were geared up for us," Co-Captain Annie Wilson said. "If we'd come into the meet with a lazy attitude, there could have been a major upset."

As it turned out, though, the Crimson itself shifted into high gear, to put the contest out of the Lions' reach before the last relay.

Sophomore Michelle Engh placed first in both the 500-and 1000-meter freestyle races, while Co-Captain Shannon Bird won both diving events.

Another dual winner for Harvard was senior Alison Greis, who triumphed in the 100 and 200 breastrokes--setting a personal lifetime best in the 100 with a 1:07 finish.

"This meet was a good indication of how we'll do this year," Wilson said. "People responded well in a situation where we had a team gunning for us."

And on Wednesday, the squad--swapping the role of the favorite for that of the underdog--will set its targets on league powerhouse Brown.

The Bruins, last year's Ivy League champions, have never lost to the Crimson. So when Harvard--which finished as runner-up in the league last season--hosts Brown at Blodgett, the stakes will be high.

"This will be our biggest meet before Christmas," Wilson said