CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Harvard University, University of Michigan, Brown University and Siena College will meet on February 14-15 at the Harvard Invitational. The season-opening tournament for both Harvard and Brown, the tournament will feature three of the CWPA's top contenders for the Eastern Championship to be hosted at Harvard later this year as the Crimson, Wolverines and Bears will get their first look at one another with potential postseason meetings coming up.

The Particulars:
The Harvard women’s water polo team opens up the 2009 campaign at home this weekend by taking on the New York Athletic Club, Michigan and Siena. Brown will also compete at the Harvard Invite and will play the NYAC and Michigan. This year’s version of the Crimson will be led by captains Devon MacLaughlin and Nicola Perlman and boasts a roster of nine underclassmen, including six freshmen.

Last Time Out:
The Crimson concluded 2008 with a 12-12 overall record and a third-place finish at the Northern Division Championships. Harvard earned four spots on the All-Northern Divison team, as Vivian Lioao, Lauren Snyder, MacLaughlin and Perlman were selected to the second team. The Crimson was 0-2 in home games last season, falling to Brown and Hartwick at Blodgett Pool.

Preseason Prognostications:
Harvard was picked eighth in the preseason CWPA poll and remains at that spot in the most recent ranking. Michigan appears at No. 1 on this week’s CWPA poll and is ranked eighth nationally.

The History:
The Crimson earned a 12-8 victory over Siena last season in Oneonta, N.Y., as MacLaughlin and Kathryn Bilder each netted hat tricks. Roxanne Pinto added two scores and Perlman was solid in net, making 13 saves.

About Michigan:
The eighth-ranked Wolverines are 4-4 on the season, but have dropped their last two games against No. 5 San Diego State, 9-6, and No. 11 Loyola Marymount, 8-6. Michigan’s victories this season have come against Colorado State, 12-0, then-No. 7 San Jose State, 8-6, then-No. 15 Cal State Bakersfield, 12-10, and Cal State Northridge, 6-5.

About Siena:
The Saints open up 2009 at the Harvard Invitational against Michigan Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Siena finished 2008 with an 11-20 overall record and was fourth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) with a 4-6 conference mark. Siena returns 10 players from last year’s squad and welcomes four newcomers to the team.

About Brown:
The Bears, ranked sixth in the latest CWPA poll, also open their season at the Harvard Invite. Brown will face the New York Athletic Club and Michigan in Sunday action. The team placed fifth at last year’s Easterns and finished second at Northerns for a final overall mark of 16-15.

Release courtesy Harvard Athletic Communications