The Harvard women's lacrosse team took its first step towards a national championship Wednesday by defeating William and Mary, 7-6, in Williamsburg, Va.

The first round victory means the Crimson (12-2 overall, 6-0 Ivy) advances to tomorrow's semifinals against top-ranked and undefeated Temple.

Harvard's explosive first half attack sparked the Crimson to victory, and outstanding defense by goalie Kelly Dermody held the Tribe off. The Crimson controlled the ground balls and possessions, and outscored the Indians, 6-1, in the first half.

Karen Everling put Harvard on top 44 seconds into the game, off an assist from Co-Captain Leelee Groome. The Tribe would not get as close as one goal again until the final minute of the contest. Co-Captain Cindi Ersek then tallied twice off assists from Groome and Katie McAnaney in a nine-second span, giving the Crimson a 3-0 lead with less than three minutes elapsed. Two goals from Kate Felsen sandwiched a Groome score, and Harvard led 6-0. The half ended with William and Mary trailing 6-1.

The second half was a different story. If not for exceptional goaltending Dermody (15 saves), Harvard probably would have been able to trade in its cleats and sticks for calculators and source books this weekend.

"Kelly had a good game," Harvard Coach Carole Kleinfelder said. "She was tough when we needed it."

Rather than concede the game to the visitors, the Tribe made it interesting. They scored five goals in the second half while Harvard could only counter with Char Joslin's single unassisited tally. William and Mary closed the gap to 7-6 with 59 seconds remaining, but the Crimson held off the Indians, earning a weekend trip to Philadelphia.

"In the first half, we went for broke and they couldn't stop us," Groome said. "In the second half, they gradually came back."

The difference in halves probably can be attributed to the intense heat in Williamsburg, which hit 91 degrees. Using only two substitutes in Wednesday's game, Harvard was undoubtedly fatigued in the second half.

"I should have used the bench more," Kleinfelder said. Kleinfelder said she plans to show some depth tomorrow against the Owls.

Kleinfelder may have to use a reserve in the starting lineup for Ersek, who separated her shoulder late in Wednesday's contest. The senior's game status is uncertain.

"We'd need about three people to replace Cindi," Dermody said.

Kleinfelder agreed. "Cindi is the hardest person to replace. She gives so much in the game. She is the heart of our team."

"We can do it though," Kleinfelder quickly added. "It just means everybody can give 10-15 percent extra."

Harvard may have more heat problems, as tomorrow's game will be played on artificial turf. The Crimson is 1-2 on turf this season. Harvard defeated Penn in March but fell to both Temple and Loyola College over Spring Break.