Talented Booters May Take All

The Harvard soccer team has won 26 of their 28 games in the last two years, and with nine returning lettermen and excellent sophomore prospects, Harvard is rated fourth in the nation behind St. Louis, Hartwick and UCLA.

Ivy league champions both years, the Crimson went to the NCAA finals in 1969 where they lost to St. Louis, 2-1. Last year they lost in the semi-finals to Hartwick, 4-3.

"Last year everybody was thinking about getting to the Nationals, but this year we are going to take the games one by one," captain Charlie Thomas said.

Coach Bruce Munro, now in his twenty-fourth season, is trying out a new formation. The system is a variation of the 4-2-4, with one of the fullbacks playing up to form a "diamond" defense

"This new system is more flexible than last year's 4-4-2, and it combines the greatest possible fire power with midfield strength and overall protection. What I'm doing is relating my system to my personnel. This is an aggressive defense which calls for a strong backfield and experienced linemen, and we have both this year," Munro said.

Harvard's most obvious strength, however, is on the forward line. Phil Kydes and Thomas, who led the Ivy League in scoring, have both been starters for two years and they will be joined by returning letterman Chris Popagianis and sophomore FelixAdedeji.

Thomas considers Adedeji a worthy replacement for last year's captain Solomon Gomez. "Felix has an all-around style. He has the strength of Bogovitch, the gusto of Gomez, the ball control of Kydes, and a little something of his own," Thomas said.

For the two linkman positions, Munro has two returning starters, Norie Harrower and Emmanuel Ekama. Much of Harvard's depth was lost at graduation, and Munro is relying on a pool of "dual-role athletes" who can play both offense and defense. Russ Bell, a returning letterman who didn't play last year, could start as either a forward or a linkman.

Harvard's backfield is highlighted by senior Chris Wilmot at center fullback. Wing-backs Phil Axten and Rick Scott have the range and speed to make the "diamond" defense work, and sophomore Brian Fearnett works well with Wilmot from his front fullback position.

To round out this nearly impenetrable defense, Harvard has senior Shep Messing in goal, who was an All-America selection in 1968 while playing for NYU.