Frank RiCapito

The game was over; the Harvard soccer team had lost 2-1 to nationally ranked Connecticut. The Crimson players were disappointed in the results, but proud of their scrappy performance.

For halfback Frank RiCapito, the contest had not yet ended. He pranced on the now-empty field, juggling the ball from one foot to the other, between the legs of the last Connecticut defender, and into the net for the score--or so he imagined.

Team captain John Sanacore described RiCapito as "dedicated, cool and disciplined." Walter Diaz, another teammate, said, "Frank's very steady. He's a very secure player." In three weeks, RiCapito, the lone freshman on the varsity soccer team, has earned the admiration of teammates and fans, as well as a starting position. And he never stops moving, never stops playing.

In last Sunday's loss to UConn, RiCapito seemed even more energized than usual. He had played about a half against Columbia and Wesleyan, but coach George Ford left him in for all but the final ten minutes against the Huskies. RiCapito is a defender; and Ford had decided that the way to beat the Huskies was to hold down the fort, not attack rashly. After a shaky first few minutes the Crimson defense did just that, eventually shutting down the high-powered Connecticut forward line all together in the second half.

Guidance Counselor

While RiCapito is as mobile and talented as any of his fellow defenders, he still needs their guidance.

"The other guys give me a purpose in games when I'm not sure what's going on," he explained. Several times in the first half he wasn't sure of just what was going on. Connecticut repeatedly attacked up the left side, scoring once and putting tremendous pressure on goalie Bill Blood. Once Harvard tied the score, however, RiCapito settled down. His fullbacks no longer needed to direct him, and the Huskies were forced to stop patrolling Blood's territory.

RiCapito is the first to admit that he has a lot to learn. He described the transition between high school and college soccer as "traumatic," adding, "The pace is much quicker here, and I've been taken by surprise. I hope I'll pick up a little bit." Chances are he will. Sanacore said he is "very 'coachable.' He's always intense on the field."

Got the Shakes

Courted by such soccer powers as Brown and Indiana, RiCapito, who hails from Bloomington, Ind., chose Harvard "for the education, not the sport." He said he remembers "trembling" during the first few workouts, though he didn't realize for several days that he was the only freshman on the squad.

Others had more confidence in him. "From the first day of practice we could tell he was going to make the team," Sanacore said.

RiCapito's strengths are his speed and ability to "mark" opposing players as they approach the Harvard goal. Without necessarily touching the ball, he must prevent attackers from roaming freely in his territory.

No Big Deal

Relaxing after the Connecticut game, he showed some confidence in his role with the team' "I played more today because I'm a defender. That's my job."

Around the dorm and in the Freshman Union, RiCapito does not talk about his job very much. He admits to being teased somewhat by friends because of his athletic success; but RiCapito said, "I'm pretty self-conscious about it. I don't want to antagonize anyone."

Bill Shea, who lives across from RiCapito, said, "You would never know that he's on the team from the way he acts, Except," Shea added, "even around the dorm, he never sits still for a minute."