But it was Joslin. Vaughan and Co. who took the fans by the throat and would not let go. Having lost only three games in the last two years, two at the Final Four, winning was expected by Harvard and its fans.

But even great expectations could not diminish the celebration when the title was finally captured. The Crimson rolled through an unblemished 15-game schedule. They weren't alone when the final horn sounded--more than 200 Harvard fans made the trek to Palmer Stadium in Princeton in the middle of final exams to help celebrate the title.

And this year's Goal was made by Jenny Walser, who did her best impression of Ed Krayer by whipping a wrist shot by Maryland goalie Jessica Wilk for the tie-breaking, title-clinching score.

Such success made us forget about the disappointments of the men's teams on campus--the football, men's soccer, hockey, squash, track and basketball. Even the men's tennis and lacrosse teams, which earned bids to NCAA tournaments, lost their early-season magic and stumbled at nationals.

However, Harvard claims that the measure of its athletic programs is not success and failure, but participation and equal opportunity for participation. And women's athletics, with less funding, fan support of alumni support, still comes in second under these criteria.

Women's athletics at Harvard can bask in its season of glory. Rainy, Joslin, women's lacrosse, women's squash and Holleran: not only champions, but also champions of a cause.