Booters Run Winning String to Three As Mogollon Registers Lone Marker

A bumpy field could not flatten the Harvard men's soccer steamroller yesterday, as the Crimson booters ran over Williams, 1-0, in Williamstown.

Mike Mogollon, a stellar performer all day, delivered the death-blow with eight minutes left in the contest.

Captain John Sanacore intercepted a pass at midfield, sidestepped a few Ephmen, and slid the ball between two defenders. Stationed at the edge of the penalty box, Mogollon unleashed a cannon without hesitation, rippling the twines.

Mogollon's blistering goal averted what would have been a frustrating scoreless tie. Ten minutes into the game, Mogollon connected on a solid header that rebounded off the Williams' goal post.

Mogollon also directed several dangerous diving headers just wide of the mark before he notched the clinching tally.

"The field was really cruddy," Sanacore said after the match. "Williams wasn't as skilled as us, but they were able to keep us off-balance because of the field."

The booters pressured the Ephmen for the first 20 minutes, but could not capitalize. Forwards Andy Kronfeld and Dave Eaton harried the Ephman defense, but the small and rugged field terrain foiled their offensive thrusts.

Goalie Billy Blood recorded his second straight shutout between the posts. Since recovering from a leg gash suffered in the gelid Amherst encounter, Blood has allowed only one marker in three games.

Blood crafted a masterpiece yesterday, making a number of clutch punches out of the Crimson goal area, and a few tough saves on Williams crosses.

Sweeper Peter Sergienko and stopper John Duggan combined with Lorenzo DiBonaventura to thwart any sporadic Ephman attacks. The improving Crimson midfield has recently kept opposition goals and opportunities to a minimum.

"The defense stuck right in there. Billy's played three great games in a row and has really got his confidence now," Sanacore said.

And although the game proved far from artistic, an away win is always valuable. "We've lost those type of games often, so it's nice to win one," Sanacore said.

THE NOTEBOOK: The booters upped their record to 4-3-1 (1-2 Ivies) with their third straight win...Their longest winning string last season was two victories...Saturday the Crimson faces a tough Princeton squad in a key Ivy marchup