In the end, press and fans at the championshiphad difficulty keeping track of whichSarah--Downing or Winters--was which.
Sunday's championship game against Marylandfeatured one of the biggest rivalries in women'slacrosse. Over the last 12 seasons, Harvard facedthe Terrapins 14 times and the series was tied atseven games each. Harvard won five of the last sixmeeting between the schools, including an 8-7victory in the 1990 championship game. The Crimsonis known for its experience in post-season play,having made the tournament for the last fourseasons. Only one team has as much recentexperience: Maryland.
This year, the perennial second-place Terrapinswere not to be denied. Harvard held a 9-6 lead inthe second half, only to blow the lead and lose,11-10, in overtime.
"In the tournament, anything can happen, andthe ball just didn't bounce our way," Gaffneysays.
Despite the loss, members of the team lookedback fondly about the season.
"The team was a cohesive unit. We all got alongwell, and we couldn't have gotten this far if wehadn't," Gaffney says. "We all had fun, eventhrough the highs and lows."
"Coming from where we did, not too many peoplein the lacrosse world thought we'd be in thechampionship," Leary says. "We were satisfiedgetting to the championship, but not with theoutcome."
Only at Harvard, in a program that has been tothe NCAA tournament for the last four years, issecond place considered second best.
Kleinfelder and company have set a standardthat is almost impossible to meet: undefeated Ivycampaigns and national success.
This team was among the best the Crimson hasever had, faltering only in the final game.Harvard exerted a unified effort based on thebelief that everyone can and must produce, andanyone can be a star at any given moment.
Such an effort is college athletics at is best,where team success is the goal, but personaldevelopment as a player and as a person is alwaysthe most important thing.
NCAA finalists. Ivy League champs. This teamshould hold its head high.
Kleinfelder says it best in a clear and simpleway: "They should be very proud of what they'veaccomplished."