The Crimson scoring machine is running just right. Yesterday at Soldiers Field, the Harvard field hockey team overpowered Lowell, 10-0.
Playing in a game that was postponed since September 26, the Crimson (10-4 overall, 4-1 Ivy) scored at will and played like a team ready to challenge Brown in tomorrow's Ivy League championship game at Providence, R.I.
"We kept it open," Harvard Coach Sue Caples said. "We passed well, got some interceptions, drew some good penalty corners. We controlled the game without losing our intensity."
In the first half, the offense dominated the field. Junior Anne Van Dykum, back full-time after breaking her right thumb almost three weeks ago against Holy Cross, scored the first goal on assists from seniors Char Joslin and Lisa Cutone.
Sophomore Ceci Clark added the second tally. Lowell tried getting back into the game, as the Chiefs' offense finally crossed the midfield line for the first time at the halfway point of the half.
However, Joslin quickly intercepted the ball and passed it to Cutone. Cutone and senior Sharon Landau teamed up to produce yet another goal.
"I didn't even have to look," Cutone said. "I knew Sharon would be right there."
As the second half began, the Crimson had cruised to a 5-0 lead. Caples decided to rest both Landau and Cutone in order to give the substitute players some extra playing time.
But Lowell still could not manage to score against the Crimson. Harvard's scoring machine didn't know how to quit. Joslin and sophomore Loren Ambinder added two tallies each in the second half as the Crimson continued its barrage.
"We executed on everything we've been working on," Landau said. "We played with poise. We were able to practice all of our corners."
"What was good was that we didn't play down to their level," Cutone added.
After the game, Coach Caples announced that Harvard has made this weekend's ECAC tournament. Princeton, which upset Harvard, 2-1, last Saturday, will be the Crimson's first opponent. The game is scheduled for Saturday at Soldiers Field (game-time, 11 a.m.).
"It's going to be sweet revenge," Landau said.
However, the game against the Bruins tomorrow is the most important thing on Harvard's minds right now. If the Crimson wins the game, it will capture its first Ivy championship.
"We're just going to focus on the Brown game for now," Caples said. "We're not looking beyond that. Ask me about the ECAC's after Brown."
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SCOREBOARD