Soccer Team to Open Against Jumbos Today

Harvard's soccer team--experienced, healthy, and a prime contender for the Ivy League championship--opens its season at 3:30 this afternoon with a game at Tufts.

If past performances mean anything, the contest should be a fairly easy tuneup for the Crimson before the Ivy campaign starts October 9. In 26 meetings between Harvard and Tufts, the Jumbos have won only a single game. Last year the Crimson scored a 3-0 victory.

Coach Brune Munro has indicated his starting lineup will have a letterman at every position. Harvard's front line should provide a devastating scoring attack with Charlie Njoku and Hugh Polk on the left side, Jim Saltonstall at center forward, and Fred Akuffo and Akin Adewole on the right. This quintet accounted for 20 goals last year. Saltonstall had a remarkable sophomore season, notching ten goals--six of them in Ivy play, second best in the League. He should be even better this year.

Despite the loss of Bob Knapp and Larry Coburn through graduation the Crimson appears in good shape at the halfback positions. Onwuchekwa Okigwe, a second team All-Ivy in 1963 who missed last season, will start at centerhalf. Captain Bill Kersetter and either Andy Kydes or Ken Mallory will all the other halfback berths.

Munro has been breathing easier since doctors cleared Nat Bowditch for play, after the veteran goalie suffered a possibly serious shoulder injury. Bowditch was named to the second All-Ivy team in 1964.

Only at fullback does the Crimson have problems. Alex Patton missed almost all of the pre-season drills, so Karl Lunkenheimer and Tony Marks will probably start at fullback until he is in shape.

The Crimson will play three non-league games before the Ivy season begins. Harvard will host Boston University Saturday and Williams next Wednesday.