Friars Freeze Out Stickwomen; Crimson Proves Punchless, 1-0

For the third straight game, Harvard field hockey goalie Denise Katsias allowed only one goal.

But unlike in her team's two previous games--in which the Crimson exploded for a total of seven goals--Harvard came up empty against Providence Saturday at Soldiers Field, losing 1-0 in front of 30 spectators.

The Crimson--coming off a season-opening win over the University of Rhode Island and an exhausting overtime victory over Northeastern--outshot Providence 10-8. The team recorded 15 penalty corners to Providence's 13, but still fell to 2-1 on the season. The Friars improved their record to 2-2-1.

"We didn't play nearly as well as we're capable of," Harvard Coach Nita Lamborghini said. "We're still a young team. We're working on being consistent."

The game's only goal came on a Providence penalty corner--the Friars' fifth in a row--with 32 minutes left in the contest. Friar forward Carol Anne Byrne took the inbounds pass and smashed a shot toward Katsias. Providence wing Marlene Ricci got her stick on the ball and slipped it past Katsias and into the net.

"Any time a team takes consecutive penalty corners, one shot is bound to go in," Crimson Co-Captain Gia Barresi said.

"I thought we had a lot of scoring opportunities in the second half," Providence Coach Jackie Gladu said. "On the penalty corner, we just turned it on."

Harvard had several chances to force a tie late in the game--including two penalty corners with less than seven minutes left. But on each occasion the Providence defense and goalie Sandra O'Gorman--who recorded nine saves--halted the Crimson attack.

With just under two minutes to play, Lamborghini pulled Katsias and added another field player. But despite a deep drive into the Providence end by Crimson wing Cindi Ersek, Harvard could not score again.

Lamborghini substituted regularly during Saturday's game, something she didn't do often in last season's 3-8-4 campaign.

"We've got a really deep squad this year," Barresi said. "We've got people who can play in a lot of positions. And play well."

The Crimson's depth will come in handy when Harvard faces defending NCAA Champion Connecticut Wednesday at Soldiers Field and defending Ivy League Champion Pennsylvania Saturday in Philadelphia.

THE NOTEBOOK: Katsias recorded seven saves...Last year, Ersek scored a goal to give Harvard a 1-1 tie with the Friars...The Crimson has a 3-2-1 lead in the all-time series.