In a game no one seriously expected it to lose, the Harvard women's soccer team defeated the Holy Cross Crusaders, adding one more victory to its unblemished record.

Excited by the team's recent top-twenty ranking on the Coaches' Poll, the Crimson (5-0 overall, 2-0 Ivy) entered the game on a tide of excitement and easily swamped the outgunned Crusaders under a deluge of shots.

The team's first goal was scored by freshman Julia Blain, who pounced upon a loose ball in the penalty box 34 minutes into the game.

A breakway by Emily Stauffer a minute into the second half, and a goal by junior forward Lindsay Minkus only seven minutes later, ensured the victory.

Holy Cross managed to avoid the shutout by tacking on a meaningless goal with less than 10 minutes to play.

Despite their obvious dominance over the Crusaders, the players' elation with the result of the game was tempered by their knowledge that they did not play up to their potential.

"We know we are better than we are playing, and we'd like to show our strengths," freshman goalie Anne Browning said.

Continuing a noticeable trend all season, the Crimson played well enough to be victorious, but did not play at the level the team's coaches know the women are capable of.

Despite the team's flashes of brilliance yesterday, there were moments in the game when it was obvious the players' intensity was flagging.

The athletes' inconsistency can perhaps be attributable to their rough schedule, including an away game tommorow in Hartford and a Sunday game against Penn.

"We need to play a lot better in the games coming up," sophomore Naomi Miller said.

Although there has been some frustration welling among the members of the team, the merit of the Crimson's 5-0 record can not be denied.

Crimson fans should be confident that the tremendous talent on the team combined with the passion of the athletes will keep the women on their successful path. Harvard  3 Holy Cross  1

Harvard, 3-1 at Worcester, MA. Harvard  1  2  --  3 Holy Cross  0  1  --  1

Scoring

Har--Blain (Foster, Stauffer) 34:30.

Har--Stauffer (Zuccaro) 46:10.

Har--Minkus (Blain) 52:45.

Holy--Norton (Robbins) 72:17.

Saves: Har--Bumey 8; Holy--Bacharach 11.