'The fall stung," Steele said. "It really hurt, and we wanted to play well in the spring."

To prepare for the spring season, the team raised money and organized a spring break trip to Italy. While overseas, the team faced stiff competition, including Italian national team players. Radcliffe went winless in three outings on the trip but felt confident about its play.

The spring squad faced a major test early in the season. For the first time with a complete field, the Ivy League Championship Tournament was held in Princeton, N.J. Radcliffe thrashed Penn in the opening round, 33-0, then scored solid victories over Dartmouth, 10-5, and Princeton, 15-7, to win the league title.

"We had something to prove at Ivies," Dixey said. "It was about pride and being competitive."

The victory also marked the realization of a team goal.

"We took it very seriously," Lundquist said.

Part of the strength the team drew upon was its symbolic association with the now-defunct Radcliffe College. The team does not plan on changing its name in the near future.