Soccer Outlook Seems Hopeful, But Amherst Might Get Victory

At first glance, Crimson soccer prospects seem to look sunny after the varsity's impressive 4-0 victory over Tufts on Wednesday. Against the Jumbos, Coach Bruce Munro's experienced defense was predictably air tight; his inexperienced front line played like professionals; and a supposed weakness at halfback never materialized. Most important, a healthy Chris Ohiri booted home two of the Crimson's four markers.

Even so, the varsity could easily lose today's contest at Amherst and Munro may well have to wait until next Wednesday before winning his hundredth game as a University coach. Amherst is always good and Harvard never loses to Tufts.

Last year, the Jeffs easily whitewashed the Crimson 3-0, simply by surrounding Chris Ohiri and ignoring everyone else. Even Harvard's Nigerian ace was unequal to the three Jeff defensemen that were always on him.

Amherst Needs New Strategy

Today Ohiri will have some help on the offense and Amherst will need a new strategy. Sophomore Hugh Polk and center forward Cormac O'Malley are good enough to keep the Jeffs from using gang tactics against Ohiri, who has been moved to inside right. In his new position, Ohiri will be harder to box in and less vulnerable to Amherst's magic circle of defensemen.

Munro will have to make the most of his sophomores and Azinna Nwafor--a transfer student from Bowdoin--to handle Amherst's speed and experience. The same Jeff eleven that shellacked the Crimson at Harvard last Fall will have the added comfort of playing on its own field.

Amherst scored three goals against Lou Williams, Terry Winslow, and Wally Whitney last year and can be expected to produce again. If the Crimson has a weakness at halfback, the Jeffs will be sure to find it and the score could be even higher. In a high-scoring contest, the Crimson will need four goals to top Amherst.