On Saturday the Harvard field hockey team found its balm not in Gilead, but in Columbia.

An earlier loss to Massachusetts did not usher Harvard into a freefall. Rather, Harvard (2-2, 1-0 Ivy) righted itself by toppling Columbia, 4-1, on Saturday. Co-captain Judy Collins paced the offense with two goals, and junior Dominique Kalil notched three assists. HARVARD4 COLUMBIA  1

"It was a huge win for us," said co-captain Tara LaSovage. "We needed a confidence-booster, something to show that we are doing things right. Winning our first Ivy game was huge."

Harvard approached the game with a revitalized attitude, having shaken off the malaise of its earlier loss.

"After UMass, we decided that we needed to push everyone a little harder in practice," LaSovage said. "There was a confidence in the air when the game began."

The Crimson also hearkened back to its blueprints for success, focusing on improving its strength.

"Coming off the loss to UMass, we knew we had to pass more because we usually play a passing game," said sophomore Liz Sarles. "We opened up the field, and we were also able to talk a lot more. Our communication broke down against UMass."

Collins started the Crimson off nicely when she scored at 6:27 of the first half.

"After that, we relaxed a little bit," LaSovage said. "It helps to have that one goal."

Junior Katie Schoolwerth's goal off a penalty corner at 7:20 sent Harvard into halftime with a 2-0 lead.

Neither goaltender faced much of an offensive barrage. Junior Anya Cowan made two saves during the first half, while her Columbia counterpart, Weoms Whitney, stopped just one shot. Each goalie finished the game with four saves.

"We pretty much dominated the game," Sarles said. "We were in the midfield or in their circle for most of the game. There were about 20 minutes when it was back-and-forth, but Anya was playing really well during that period."

The intensity rose briefly when Alen Donohue tallied at 16:56 of the second half to pull Columbia within one.

"It was kind of a fluke goal," Sarles said. "Things got messy in front of the net, and Anya couldn't really see. [Donohue] scooped it in."

But the Crimson deflated this defiant rally when Sarles converted another penalty corner, on assists from Kalil and LaSovage.