Injuries May Hamper Booters In Ivy Match Against Tigers

The Harvard soccer team faces Princeton at 10:30 a.m. today, with the usual toothless offense and an unusually long pre-game injury list. Crimson halfbacks Rick LaCivita, Tony VanNeil, and Bob Auritt along with goalie Steve Kidder are injured and are doubtful starters for the last Harvard home game of the season.

Kidder, suffering from a minor ankle injury and a pulled groin muscle, and Rick LaCivita will not start and will probably not play in the match, Harvard coach Bruce Munro said yesterday.

"Auritt and VanNiel will both start, but I don't know how long they will last," Munro said.

The injuries in the halfback line could easily turn the tide against the Crimson and will certainly put the pressure on sophomore halfback Steve Hynes.

Princeton, playing under first-year coach Bill Muse, has a 1-2-1 Ivy League record, while the Crimson sports a 2-2 record. The Tigers, however, sport a 6-2-1 regular season record as opposed to Harvard's 3-5-1. Princeton has lost to both Ivy powerhouses, Brown and Penn, by 1-0 on a penalty kick, and by 2-0, respectively.

Princeton seems to be favored statistically, but Harvard, despite its injured players, is still capable of another Ivy victory.

Munro said that Princeton is a balanced team, but Muse said yesterday, "We don't really have any talented players. Goalie Paul Helfenstein and fullback Steve Tobolsky are my best players."

Defense, however, can only prevent scoring and respond to pressure. Defense cannot score, and although Kidder might not play, the halfbacks--even without LaCivita--should be able to keep the pressure on Princeton.

Harvard has a good chance of keeping the ball in Princeton territory, especially since the Tiger halfback line is defensively oriented. Munro might have to rearrange his starters and use fullback Brian Fearnett at the forward line to capitalize on scoring opportunities that can be presented by the ball-control edge.

Any Position

Fearnett played center forward during his freshman year, and may repeat this performance tomorrow. "All during the summer he was playing center forward," Munro said. "Besides, he can play well at any position."

Both teams have no hopes for Ivy league supremacy, but a Harvard victory would improve its New England ranking and also give momentum for next Saturday's game at Brown.

Harvard is not ranked currently in the New England soccer poll, after its disappointing loss to Tufts last Wednesday. Princeton is playing with the momentum of an easy 5-1 win against Jacksonville.