Booters Fit to be Tied: Knot B.U., 2-2

It wasn't an Ivy foe, nor was it a perennial power. But the Harvard's men's soccer team yesterday was still concerned; it wanted a victory.

But the booters split four goals with a solid Boston University squad and had to leave the newly christened Ohiri field with a 2-2 tie.

Throughout the afternoon, the Crimson booters were aware that they were missing senior fullback Marty Sabelli, sophomore backs Frank DiFalco and Miles Welch, as well as freshman halfback sensation Paul Nicholas all to injury.

They were aware that they had but two healthy substitutes. And they were aware that the Terriers had defeated a surprisingly strong crew from Brown (second in the Ivy League, 14th in the country).

All the same, they expected victory, but didn't get it.

The first half belonged to Harvard as forwards Pablo Keller-Sarmiento and Lane Kenworthy complemented the threatening play of sophomore midfielder John Catliffe, who weaved and darted through an incessantly receding Terrier defense. However, after 40 minutes of one-sided soccer. Harvard fell short time after time as the Boston defense deftly blocked their shots.

A few minutes into the second half it was apparent that the tide had changed. The Crimson found themselves in a faster, more physical and challenging game. New goalie Phil Coogan confronted a swarming Terrier offense which successfully pushed the ball deep into Harvard's corners. At 31:11. Coogan managed to get a hand on a sizzling Terrier shot, but he was not as lucky moments later, when Greg Cuddy dribbled post the left side of the Harvard defense and punched one by the right post and Coogan's outstretched arms.

B.U. then continued to use its light-footed wingers, and its counter-attacks became increasingly dangerous. If fullbacks Ian Hardington and John Ahr had not tripped up the Terrier forwards during the half's last seconds, there might have been more tallying for the opposition.

When regulation play ended, however, Harvard hadn't made any progress.

Not more than three minutes into the first overtime period, though, a galloping Kenworthy received the ball from captain Leo Lanzillo, and rolled it past the goalkeeper for the Crimson's second goal.

At 7:59, however, Dave Munson equalized on another counterattack. From that point on the pace was furious but both teams produced nil when time ran out.

THE NOTEBOOK: Despite the tie, the Crimson is still confident. This weekend's match against Princeton promises to be what Head Coach Jape Shattuck called "a very hard game" Commenting on his team's progress, he declared. "We're much better than last year. If the two teams had to play. I'd rather coach this one."