Crimson Booters Tie Nationally-Ranked UConn;

Harvard's booters literally muddled through to a 1-1 tie yesterday, up-setting victory hopes of a nationally ranked UConn team at UConn yesterday.

Playing on a puddle-filled field that severely restricted the ball movement, the Crimson capitalized on their conditioning, aggressive play and enthusiasm to tie heavily favored UConn.

The playing conditions inevitably handicapped a skillful ball handling unit like UConn but as Crimson mentor George Ford said, "You have to adjust your skills to the conditions."

Puddle Dodgers

The Crimson was able to adjust to the conditions faster, moving the ball up the wings where the field was free of puddles, keeping the ball away from its side of the field.

UConn instead tried to move the ball through the middle but failed to do so and finally switched to the wings late in the second half.

UConn scored first with 20 minutes into the first half from a beautiful pass from the left wing to the striker who headed it in past Ben Bryan, the Harvard goalie.

The Crimson booters came back in eight minutes when Lyman Bullard, halfback took a shot on goal. The ball however was caught in a puddle and stopped a yard short of the goal. Sophomore Eric Zagger took a shot at it trying to place it in the opposite corner but the ball got hung up in another puddle. This time junior Bob McGee shot in from the middle of the goal, trying the score up.

Ford singled Bryan out for an out-standing game, after he came up with more than 20 saves. He said, "You could not have asked him to play a better game. He did everything you hope a goalie will do."

Ford also said that he was "pleased as punch," with the outcome adding that his players "worked their butts off." He praised Captain Steve Mead for working very hard and playing an excellent game along with sophomore Mark Zimmering.

Ford said that hard training which makes games look easy in comparison was the key to the Crimson's success. He added that the enthusiasm that characterizes the Crimson team this year is "fantastic."

The Crimson coach when speaking of the season prospects and the Cornell game to be played here Saturday said, "Teams that want to take us lightly had better watch out for us." Yesterday's performance at UConn lends credence to Ford's warning.