The road has been rough for the Harvard field hockey team. Entering yesterday's game against Holy Cross, the Crimson had managed only one win.

But when Harvard traveled to Worcester yesterday to face the Crusaders, the results were far more encouraging.

The Crimson recorded a season high goal output and defeated the host Crusaders, 5-3, to raise its record to 4-3-1 on the season.

"They took us off guard in the beginning, but we didn't let them dictate the game," Tri-Captain Jane Grim said.

Holy Cross took a 2-0 lead in the opening minutes of the contest, with both goals resulting from penalty corners. Both scores rebounded off the pads of junior goalie Denise Katsias before rolling into the net.

But the Crimson rallied in the first half, as sophmore Char Joslin scored off an assist by Tri-Captain Kate Felsen. Joslin took a cross-field pass from Felsen, and connected from the top of the circle.

"Today, more than usual, we were working well," Joslin said. "We had lots of shots and finally we had the opportunity."

Two-goal performances by both Lisa Cutone and Nicole Simourian rounded out the scoring for the Crimson.

"In the second half we played much better," Grim said. "It was our first year playing them and although they were not very strong they came out extra hungry to win."

Harvard now sets its sights on Saturday's Ivy League confrontation with first-place Dartmouth at Soldiers Field. It is probably the most important game of the year for Harvard, as the Crimson must win in order to keep its Ivy title hopes alive.

THE NOTEBOOK: Simourian's two-goal day now ties her with Kate Felsen for the team lead with four goals...Cutone, who tallied her first collegiate goal last week against Springfield, is second on the squad with three...The Crimson's next five games are at Soldiers Field.

Cardinals 6, Giants 0

Sparked by utilityman Jose Oquendo's three-run homer, the St. Louis Cardinals blanked the San Francisco Giants, 6-0, behind the shutout pitching of Danny Cox last night in Game 7 of the National League Playoffs.

The Cardinals earned their 15th World Series trip, third in the last six years, by winning the final two games at home.