Booters Stop Exeter, 1-0, Score 4th Shutout Victory

Today is a bad day to write about the freshman soccer team. True they've been neglected too long, but it's hard to say all the nice things about yesterday's 1-0 win over Exeter that should be said about this Yardling squad.

Coach Dana Getchell's boys have scored 17 goals in four gaxes now and are undefeated, untied, and unscored upon. They've beaten Tufts 5-0, M.I.T. 9-0, and Dartmouth 2-6 on the Indians sold in Hanover.

"The Exeter game," Getchell confessed, "was far from our best. But any mid-week game during hour exam time I'm happy just to win."

And in all honesty that 1-0 score doesn't show how completely the Crimson dominated the game. The visiting Exeter squad showed little of the finesse that the Yardlings have been coached to expect, and the Exonians' aggressive tactics confused the Crimson during the first quarter.

The second period, however, was all Harvard, as halfbacks Joe Gold and Nwachukwu Azikiwe controlled the misplay and captain Peter Millock playing inside back-passed like a varsity man.

When center-forward Haven Pell pushed one by the Exeter goalkeeper with ten minutes gone in the period, it looked as though the Crimson might break the game open, but the visitors' defense held on under a fierce and artful Yardling onslaught and the half ended without a second score.

The passes weren't as accurate during the third quarter, and though the ball spent most of its time in Exeter territory there were few real threats. Hustling left wing Ken Appel made some fine centering passes, but, with Pell on the bench nursing a slight muscle sprain, most of them landed amid a crowd of Exeter backs.

With the quarter almost ended, the officials awarded the visitors a free kick on a foul in the Harvard some, and for the first time, a pall fell over the this hand of spectators on the sidelines. The Crimson's hitherto untouched goal line was foremost in everybody's mind, and a hush descended as the Exeter forward addressed the ball and Crimson goalkeeper Norris Childs crouched to defend his nets.

The boot was good and low, near the left hand corner. With a powerful kick of his left leg, Childs leapt to his right on his side--not his stomach. He blocked the kick and gained possession of the ball before it reached the chalk.

"That was a great save, a really great one." Getchell said after the game. "You know, Norris has worked hard, practicing that motion every day. If you jump on your belly the ball can slide under you. Boy, what a save."

Late in the game the ball was traveling back and forth in a manner reminiscent of a tennis match. The Exonians would stumble downfield with the ball and Crimson fullbacks David Wright and Charlie Lotspeich would boom it right back. When the gun sounded, Getchell huddled his team, told them. "Let's just forget about this one," and led the cheer for the vanquished Exonians.