...While Booters Start at MIT Today

It's 10 a.m. Monday, and it's time for Bio 106 for the men's soccer team.

The season opens this afternoon with what has to be considered a gut compared to the rest of the schedule -- the MIT Engineers. Except that this year the booters are not settling for a Pass; they are shooting for the 'A', summa cum laude, the Latin Oration at Commencement -- the works.

"Our sights are set on the Ivy League title and New Englands," Coach George Ford said Monday. And the team is anxious to start things off with a big win at MIT.

The squad, with the addition of three freshmen, appears ready for its run at the Ivy League title. Since the team returned from its Newport, R. I. training camp, it has continued work on strategy, which had been lacking in past years.

Despite an impressive preseason, Ford was unwilling to make any predictions Monday, "Things aren't going to be any easier. We're going to have to work for every game."

Ford feels the team is capable of winning each game, but first the players have to convince themselves they can do it.

Clockwork

According to Captain Jim Langton, Ford need not worry. "I think we have the physical fitness, the skills and the technique to do it," he said yesterday. "If everyone concentrates, clicks for 90 minutes, we have a real good shot."

And if the number of players doing extra pushups and running non-stop for three hours in practice is any indication, this team is hungry.

MIT is an "unknown quantity," Langton said, but based on past performance -- tiddlywinks has been the Engineers' best sport -- the Crimson booters should come away with a win.

Ford will not announce the starting lineup until game time, but like that 'A' in Bio 106, some things are certain. Last season's leading scorers. Lee Nelson and Walter Diaz, will return at the inside attack positions. Michael Smith should be holding fort at midfield while Langton and John Sanacore will lead sorties from the back line.

Bill Blood will start in goal, only his second varsity start, but he has progressed quickly in preseason, and has won the job for now.

Chances are that three freshmen will start or see a lot of action as Ford tries to work them into the system early. Mauro Keller-Sarmiento, from Buenos Aires, will replace an ill Alberto Villar at right wing. And the Tacoma twosome of John Duggan and Peter Sergienko will play at midfield and right back, respectively.

Double Trouble

Tom Hsiao and Dave Eaton will play left wing, and Andy Kronfeld and Steve Yakopee return at midfield.

The game starts at 3 p.m. at MIT.