PROVIDENCE, R.I.--What a long, strange trip it has been.

Unfortunately for the Harvard field hockey team (9-5-0 overall, 4-2 Ivy League), the trip isn't over yet.

The Crimson's seventeen-year Great Trek to Ivy League glory will continue into next season, thanks to the Brown Bruins.

In front of 250 fans on top of Warner Roof (yes, on top), the Bruins (9-5-1 overall, 5-0-1 Ivy League) defeated Harvard, 2-1, yesterday on a Patricia Beatini overtime goal to capture its first Ivy League title since 1984. The Crimson has never won the Ivy championship.

Having lost to Princeton (3-2-0 Ivies) in another 2-1 overtime killer last Saturday, the Crimson will finish either second or third in the Ivies, depending on how the Tigers fare against Cornell later this week.

From the outset, the Bruins succesfully pushed the ball up the field, constantly challenging the Crimson defense and putting extra pressure on sophomore goalie Lisa Yadao. In fact, Brown had already chalked up six penalty corners to Harvard's zero by the end of the first period.

With 15:19 remaining in the half, the Bruin's Christine Monteiro (a name the Crimson won't soon forget) scored from deep on the right side of the circle.

"I should've had it," Yadao said. "It must have hopped or something."

The goal was the freshman forward's ninth, tying the Brown fifteen-year-old record for goals in a season.

Monteiro teamed up with her sister co-captain Natalie to increase Brown's intensity after the goal. The dynamic duo played a key role in the Bears' offensive transitions throughout the game.

Despite the strong Brown attack, the Crimson defense held fast and effectively broke up the Bruin corners, keeping the score down to 1-0 at halftime.

In the second half, Brown showed why it has been described as a "very, very physical team."

Between the pushing, shoving and occasional elbowing, Harvard managed to get the ball upfield by utilizing stick-to-stick passing and keeping closer control of the ball.

With only 13:05 remaining in the game, Harvard got its first penalty corner of the game. The Crimson made the most of it.

Senior wing Lisa Cutone hit the ball out to her linemate Sharon Landau, who stopped the ball for Co-Captain Char Joslin. Joslin whaled the ball towards the upper left corner of the net over Bruin goalie Sarah Lamont for what seemed to be a sure goal. But Bruin senior back Laura Sullivan materialized from nowhere, stopping the ball with her hand to give the Crimson a penalty stroke.