Wesleyan Beats J.V. Booters, Suffers First Loss of Year

While the Harvard varsity soccer team chalked up its first win of the year yesterday, the J.V. suffered its first loss, falling to its Wesleyan counterpart, 2-1.

Phil King netted both goals for the visitors, with his second tally providing the winning margin at the 32:45 mark of the second half.

Harvard's only score came when Rick Berkman netted a pass from Tony Diaz at 41:43 of the same period.

Harvard began the game slowly with a defensive strategy. Neither Harvard's Ben Erulkar nor Wesleyan's Frank Wood were tested heavily at either end of the field.

Sorrow and the Pity

Wesleyan spilled first blood almost 13 minutes after the intermission when King guided a pass from Tim Schwarz past Erulkar.

When Berkman's goal tied the score six minutes later, the momentum appeared to have shifted to the Crimson. But the booters missed excellent opportunities on shots that went just wide and others that fell victim to Wood's sure hands. Both Wood and the entire Wesleyan back line played fine games.

It's So Boring

The men from Middletown got their victory despite some fine work by the Crimson's second half goalie Larry Garrett. With 12 minutes remaining, a gallant deflection of a Wesleyan shot by Garrett dribbled directly on to the foot of the high-scoring King who blasted it into the open net unmolested for the score.

Harvard coach Mike Strickland attributed the disappointing loss to defensive mistakes. "We have to concentrate on the execution of simple things," he said after the game.

The loss to Wesleyan left the J.V. team's record at 1-1. The squad will travel to Amherst for a game against UMass next Wednesday.