Soccer Team Faces Princeton Today

Harvard's soccer team, undefeated in Ivy League play, travels to Princeton Saturday to take on a winless Tiger squad, in what should be a cinch victory for the Crimson.

But Coach Bruce Monro is cautious. Princeton's defense gave up only two goals against league-leading Brown last week, and has yet to lose any game by more than two.

Princeton uses an unusual 4-2-4 defense, with four fullbacks playing deep. This alignment has held Tiger opponents to an average of only 7 goals per game.

Tiger hopes rest on the four fullbacks. Sophomores Greg Sachnewycz and Tom Weidner will join John Gessinger and Bob Mayer in an attempt to throttle Harvard's high scoring offense, which has been averaging 3.5 goals per Ivy game.

The Tiger offense is not powerful. Princeton has only scored four goals all season. Forward Les Buck is the team's leading scorer with two goals and one assist. Doug Ditmar and Jack Hayes have one goal and one assist each.

Princeton held a Dartmouth team, which nearly upset Harvard, to a scoreless tie. The Tigers have also lost several close games, 4-3 to Columbia and 2-1 to Penn in overtime.

Monro is also worried about the possibility of a wet field, which would hamper Harvard's short-passing attack. The team practiced a longer passing offense in the rain Wednesday.

Injuries will hurt both teams. Princeton will be missing Hayes, and Crimson forward Jaime Vargas is listed as a "doubtful starter." Vargas scored three goals in last week's victory over Penn.

Harvard's fullback Abi Azikiwe may be able to play, for the first time in two weeks.