Lacrosse Varsity Shows Promise; Bohn, Pyle, Lamont Lead Crimson

With regular season victories over Stevens Institute and Hofstra already in the record book, the varsity lacrosse team is looking forward to what might be its best season in several years. But even more significant than the 5 to 4 overtime victory against Hofstra--last year ranked ninth in the country--is the tremendous resurgence of spirit which Coach Bruce Munro's squad has displayed so far this spring.

Last year, when the H.A.A. decided to cut the budgets of some minor sports, lacrosse was one of the losers. While the H.A.A. continues to grant letters to varsity players and pay for coaching and equipment, the lacrosse team this year has to provide its own transportation.

But so far, desire to reverse the H.A.A.'s decision has helped to pull the team together. A few years ago, the older players on the team would advise freshmen and sophomores to ease up on calisthenics when the coach's back was turned: lacrosse was a fairly pleasant way to get exercise on a free afternoon.

This season, though, practice sessions have been different. "For the first time since I've been with the team," commented goalie Chris Stone, "every man wants to return from practice knowing something new about lacrosse."

The most highly touted units on the team are the attacks. Only one first string attackman, Dub Mallonnee, graduated from last year's squad and he has been replaced by Dave Bohn, an all-New England player at Exeter and the high scorer on last year's freshman team. Bohn, Captain Gerry Pyle--second to Mallonnee in scoring last season--Nick Lamont, and Andy Leaf will alternate at the three attack positions.

At midfield, the team has two interchangeable units. Comprising one line will be Dick Morgan, an extremely fast lefthander, Dick Parks, perhaps the best midfielder on the team, and Charlie Devens. John Gould, Tadgh Sweeney, and Dave Birch will make up the other line.

The graduation of last year's captain, Jim Herscot, and first-stringer John Baldwin weakened the Crimson defense considerably, but a fairly good showing during the spring trip has brightened the outlook. Bron Thayer, Lanny Keyes and Ed Tarlov are slated to start Saturday's game with the Boston Lacrosse Club, while Mike Adair, a senior beginning his first season of lacrosse here, has also been bidding for a spot in the lineup.

The biggest loss the team suffered was the graduation of Dick MacKinnon, varsity goalie for three years.

Chris Stone, the second string goalie for two seasons, will replace MacKinnon. Stone, who has been working with the varsity longer than any man on the squad, performed well on the spring trip, especially against Hofstra when he allowed only one goal to slip by him after the first half. --swamped the Bullpups, 9 to 0. So, while the Elis have an imposing group of veterans, they can't expect much support from sophomores. If the Crimson sophomores--particularly Bowditch and Lemann--develop into first-rate varsity players, the varsity will be extremely tough for even Yale to beat.

Wynn's freshman crop once again looks promising, and, he says, it "could be as good" as last year's unbeaten team. Joram Piatigorsky, a high-ranked California junior, is established pretty well at number one singles, with Kal Pollen, Chris Clark, Larry Sobel and Mark Woodbury battling for the next four positions. Other contenders for singles spots are Jonathan Roosevelt, Jim Gordon, Roger Pauley and Jerry Black. The doubles teams, still undetermined, will no doubt be drawn from these nine men