"The team bonded so much in the middle of the season and that was extremely evident in our play at the end of the season," sophomore Natasha Magnuson said. "We were able to focus on polo a lot more towards the end of the season."

On the season, Harvard scored 397 goals and only allowed its opponents 184. Sophomore Jess Gunderson--voted Most Valuable Player--led the team with 107 goals, and junior Leslie Bennett and Magnuson were the next highest goal-scorers, with 62 and 59, respectively.

Gunderson also led the team in assists with 60, while Magnuson was the leader in steals, boasting 54.

The two goalkeepers posted impressive save percentages--junior Carine Williams with 59 percent and freshman Danielle McCarthy with 56 percent.

The team now looks to next year with great confidence. Harvard will lose only one player, senior Becky Gaines. Rising seniors Leslie Bennett and Angela Munoz will join Hodge as co-captains of the team.

"Next year, we need to concentrate on rebuilding basic skills and to continue to develop as a team both in and out of the water," Hodge said." Our defense is pretty solid at this point. It's our offense that needs work."

"We'll probably work a lot on outside shooting and driving," Hodge added. "Most importantly, though, is the need to play consistently. We need to make the effort to play good polo every single time we get in the water, at practice or in a game situation."

The team hopes to carry the momentum gained at the end of this season into next year.

"It is important for us to start off the season where we left off this season, showing our opponents that we can still take them to double and triple overtimes," Magnuson said.