All of Harvard's nine losses were by two goals or more. Due to lapses, the team gave up bad late goals that turned 2-1 losses into 3-1 blowouts.

Goaltender Jessica Milhollin, the team's other co-captain, had Harvard's best all-time save percentage in 1993 with a .910 mark, but in '94 that fell to .850.

Why the drop-off? In essence, because she was bombarded. Milhollin's 202 saves last year were the most in Harvard history--Horwath's and Romano's youth showed.

"Jessica is a veteran," Caples said. "She's a senior. But the defense gave up too many shots--we need to play better individual defense. [Milhollin] was still making 20 saves a game."

The other cause for concern in the upcoming season will be health. O'Brien led the team in goals as a freshman, but in each of the past two years she sustained injuries.

Last year O'Brien, who was a Sports Illustrated Face in the Crowd as a high school senior, injured her ankle during a 4-2 loss to Boston University. That began a three-game losing streak, including an unforgivable shutout at the hands of a rather mediocre William and Mary squad.

In the fall practices so far, the only bang-ups have been a bad back for Horwath and broken thumb for Stringer. Even so, both are scheduled to play in the opener on September 8, which is at Rhode Island.

The Competition

Princeton is the defending champion, but the Tigers also lost the most to graduation. Two-time Ivy League Player of the Year Liz Fagan and unanimous All-League selection Amory Rowe have both graduated. Sophomore Amy MacFarlane, who has been first team All-Ivy in each of her two seasons, will take the year off to play for the Canadian National team.

But Princeton still has super attacker Lisa Rebane and a pair of second team All-Ivy players: goaltender Liz Hill and forward Skye Delano-Nuttal. Hill led the league in save percentage (.935) and goals-against average (0.50).

Of the teams that are trying to wrest the title away, Dartmouth and Penn have the best shots along with Harvard. Dartmouth's only graduate was first-team All-Ivy goaltender Lauren Demski, and the Big Green return back Cynthia Roberts and potent scoring threat Allison Pell. However, the team must still cope with the tragic July suicide of captain-elect Sarah Devens.

Penn, meanwhile, started the season 6-1-1 but finished 9-5-1. Of course, four of those losses were to Top 20 teams. The Quakers lost three-time first-team All-Ivy midfielder Amy Pine, along with fellow first-teamer Mandy Kauffman. Leading the returnees will be forward Kara Philbin and back Sue Quinn.

The good news for Harvard is that Princeton and Penn come up to Cambridge. The Quakers come to town on October 7, and the Tigers follow on October 21--both Saturdays. Harvard travels to Dartmouth on November 4.

FIELD HOCKEY

Record: 6-9