Booters First In NCAA Poll

Harvard defeated Tufts (5-2) and Brown (4-1) the second and fifth ranked teams in New England respectively, to finish on top of the NCAA District I rankings for the third consecutive season. The Crimson polled all 12 first place votes cast.

Harvard's number one ranking places the defending champion at home in the upcoming NCAA District playoffs. On Tuesday, Nov. 23. Harvard will host Southern Connecticut State (7-4-1), the tenth ranked team in New England and the fourth ranked entrant in the playoffs. On the same afternoon, fifth ranked Brown will host second ranked Bridgeport because Bridgeport plays its home games in a public park and can not meet the NCAA's demands to charge admission.

Six teams turned down bids to the District playoffs. Included in the list of squads that passed up the offer are third-ranked Tufts, undefeated Williams, and Springfield (a 3-2 victor of Brown this year). Usually, a school turns down a bid because it rejects all post-season events, wishes to compete on the college level, or feels its chances do not warrant the expense of participation.

New England Top Ten

Harvard (9-1-0)

Bridgeport (11-5-0)

Tufts (10-2-0)

Williams (6-0-3)

Brown (5-5-2)

Vermont (10-2-0)

Wesleyan (7-4-0)

Springfield (7-4-2)

New Haven (13-3-1)

Southern Conn. St. (7-4-1)

(NCAA District I Entrants)