"It was so close, and easily could have gone either way," Magnuson said. "We were crushed, but also positive about the next day."

On Sunday, it just wasn't to be. The first three quarters were all Princeton on the scoreboard, as the Tigers pushed ahead 3-0. After adding another goal in the fourth, Princeton had an insurmountable 4-0 lead.

"Princeton just knew our weaknesses and were maximizing on them," Magnuson said.

With a minute remaining, the Crimson turned up the heat, scoring two goals. But it was too little too late.

"We just didn't adapt to what they were doing," Gunderson said. "We also knew there was so much riding on the game."

With this defeat, Harvard's season came to an abrupt end, but the players have no reason to hang their heads. Not only did they play their best polo of the year, but they came within a single goal of the top two finishers.

With only one graduating senior-- Becky Gaines--Harvard looks forward to a very promising 1999-2000 season.

"Despite the losses, the weekend was a good note to end on," Gunderson said. "We are proud of our performance."