There's a certain comfort in being a "darkhorse" team. There are few expectations. Opponents are inclined to take you for granted. And, if nothing else, it makes an interesting sounding moniker.
For perhaps all of the these reasons, Harvard's women's soccer team is relishing its present role as resident darkhorse of the league. The team went an unexceptional 6-7-1 last season and lost several key players to graduation, giving cause for many to expect next to nothing from it this season. But rather than lament, cry or even shrug off these low expectations, the team seems to bear them gladly. In fact, it seems to be thriving on them.
Conditioning sprints are punctuated by such cryptic chants as: "The darkhorse rides at midnight!" The term "darkhorse" comes up repeatedly in interviews with the players. Heck, even the practice-punctuating one word huddle chant has become "darkhorse," rather than the more conventional "defense" or "team."
"It was just something the players picked up," head coach Tim Wheaton says. "A couple media-types started calling us that, so we've adopted that as a sort of rallying cry."
And it seems to be working. Since September 2 the team has put in its most intense pre-season work-outs in recent memory. The squad practiced twice a day through September 8 and then began intense one-a-days, which it will continue throughout the season.
"It's been incredible," Wheaton says. "The players have worked incredibly hard. This is a level of intensity I haven't seen in the past few years."
Wheaton attributes a large measure of the team's vigor to off-season training and mental preparation. After last season's disappointing finish, team members have come into this year with solid goals of improvement and a gritty determination to see them through.
"The team is in great condition, and is extremely focused on winning," he says. "In the past, we've had the will to win, but not the level of deep-seated commitment--the off-season training, etc., that we have this year."
"In general we're more motivated and a lot more fit," captain Genevieve Chelius adds. "We know that we have a lot of bases to cover."
Even the biggest optimist must admit that the team has some major rebuilding to do. The team lost only four players to graduation last season, but all four were solid players. They include star goalie Brooke Donahoe (146 saves, 87 percent) and second-leading scorer Laura Flynn (three goals, two assists).
The Crimson should be aided by the return of three players who were out for all or part of last season. Junior midfielder Susan DeLellis returns after a leg muscle kept her out of action all fall. Sophomore midfielder Dana Tenser returns after missing all but three games with knee surgery. And sophomore all-Ivy midfielder Cara James returns after a knee injury kept her out of the last third of the season.
In addition, a number of freshman are likely to see action. The team has an uncommonly good freshman class, from which it is likely to see contributions immediately.
"I've been impressed with the freshmen," Wheaton says. "I know that it's sort of tough for them with it being a new environment and all, but they've shown that they are really talented. We have some new people who will be able to play from the first game on."
Last season, the team's weakest link was its ability to score. It averaged only a little over one goal a game. The seat of the problem was a general lack of aggressiveness and offensive coordination.
"We were too conservative in general," captain Beth Morgan says. "We seemed to play back rather than attack. We were defensive.
"I also think we didn't help out as much as we should have," she adds. "I think we had a tendency to get too locked into our positions, rather than play the whole field."
The latter tendency will be particularly tempting this season with so many new players trying to familiarize themselves with new situations. That's why improved communication and teamwork is a number-one priority.
"Learning to play together, learning how to react to each other, I think that will be of supreme importance," Wheaton says. "You can have all the intensity and all the drive in the world, but if you don't work together, you're not going to get very far. I think this team has the ability to be that sort of team."
And if it does, the dark horse will ride at midnight.
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