Harvard Booters Breeze Past Mediocre MIT, 5-0

Showing sporadic signs of brilliance, but often playing down to the Engineers' level of play, the Harvard varsity soccer team, led by sophomore newcorner Bent Hinze's three goal performance, dumped MIT 5-0 yesterday for the twenty-fifth straight time.

The initial tally, scored early in the first half by fullback Henry Sideropoulous following some good playmaking in front by Bahman Mossavar-Rahmani and Row Padmoor, was all the Crimson needed against an outmatched, inexperienced but hustling MIT squad.

But, as is often the case when the opposition is sub-par, the more talented Harvard team eased up often playing the Engineers' hustle and guts game. "We got a goal early, and should have wiped them up," said assistant coach Chris Wilmot, "but instead we let them get back in the game."

The Crimson's lack of enthusiasm, in the early stages was offset, to an extent, by some good individual play, but the extra pass, the open men missed, and sloppy teamwork prevented the Crimson from completely embarrassing the Engineers.

A mistake by an MIT defender on a shot by Hinze made the score 2-0 when the fullback's clearing shot boomed into the MIT net. The next goal, however, was no fluke. On an indirect kick from just outside the penalty area. Hinze, on a beautiful set-up by left wing Demetrio Mena, picked the short side and chipped the ball just inside the post for his second goal.

The second half saw the starting unit begin to move more effectively, as the line of Adedeji, Papaginis, Hinze, and Padmoor began to click. Papaginis, content to set up the forwards from his wing position, sent a crossing pass in front where Hinze drilled it for his hat trick.

With the game safely tucked away head coach Bruce Munro began looking at personnel, substituting freely and getting some good play from subs Steve Meed, Dragan Vujovic, Lawson Wulsin, and Bob Adams. The routine rout dragged on, with bad refereeing marring play throughout.

With the game all but over, Felix Adedeji, frustrated all afternoon, finally connected for a score on the kind of individual effort that is his trademark. Taking a pass in front, Adedeji balanced the ball on his knee, then flipped it in over the goalie for the 5-0 margin.

The defense, while not severely tested, played steady, ball all afternoon and appeared to be adjusting to the new diagonal formation. Rick Scott and Brian Fearnett controlled the center, and outside defenseman Ric LaCicita and Henry Sideropoulous got back well and set up the offense.

The play of Emmanuel Ekama and Bahman Mossavar-Rahmani at linkman was less impressive than in the scrimmage against Amherst last Saturday. Mossovar-Rahmani was hampered by a cold, and Ekama by a leg problem. Goalie Steve Kidder looked confident in the nets, but the few hard shots directed his way were fired right at him.

"It was a typical MIT game." Munro said afterward. "We just can't get up for them." The teamwork that Munro is looking for was there off and on, but he said that he "didn't expect a polished team. With four strangers on a line it takes time."

Williams, ranked second in New England to Harvard, comes to Cambridge on Saturday. That game may yield Munro a more valid evaluation of the squad than yesterday's cavalier effort against mediocre competition.