W. Booters Face Minutewomen

It's not often that a team is excited over a loss.

But the Harvard women's soccer team's 4-1 defeat at the hands of second-ranked Connecticut has the team bursting with enthusiasm.

"The score doesn't reflect how we controlled the game," Crimson Coach Tim Wheaton said. "The score should have been 2-1, not 4-1."

The loss drops the Crimson's record to 4-3-1 (2-1-0 Ivy), but the record is unimportant.

What is important is the quality of the Crimson's play, which has been on the rise since Harvard's loss to Boston College two weeks ago.

After losing to B.C., 3-1, Harvard destroyed Penn, 10-2, and Holy Cross, 4-1, before falling to the powerful Huskies on Saturday.

Although Penn and Holy Cross have weak programs, the Connecticut game showed that Harvard's revival is for real.

"We're playing hard and loose and generating a lot of [scoring] chances," Wheaton said. "We're showing that we can play with nationally ranked teams."

"Our confidence in ourselves is growing," Johnston said.

That confidence will be crucial as longtime rival Massachusetts comes to Ohiri Field today at 3:00 p.m.

Number-Two

The Minutewomen are ranked second in New England by the Intercollegiate Soccer Association of America (ISAA).

"They are a very good team, with a long tradition of success at the national level," Wheaton said. "It's going to be a challenge."

"We are the underdog, which is to our advantage," Johnston said. "We can come out and play with nothing to lose. But, because of Connecticut, we know we can play with them now."

The game should be a classic confrontation, as Harvard sends its prolific offense against the Minute-women's strong defense.

Harvard's scoring trio of Johnston, Laurie Uustal, and Jen Minkus will have to penetrate a defense that has allowed only four goals in 10 games.

Massachusetts goalie Briana Scurry has an unbelievable 0.22 goals-against average and has shut out opponents an amazing seven times.

In front of her, Scurry has out standing defenders Paula Wilkins and Holly Helmuth.

"The strength of this team really lies in their backfield," Wheaton said.

Wilkins and Helmuth not only anchor the defense, but spark the offense, as well.

Helmuth leads the team with seven goals, while Wilkins has six assists.

The burden of the offense, however, is entrusted to center forward Kim Eynard, who leads the team with 27 shots and has four goals.

Eynard, however, is not the kind of speedy forward that has troubled the Crimson in the past. Rather, Eynard relies on skill and finesse to generate offense.

This is good news for Crimson sweeper Erin Matias, who excels in shutting down such players.

A key to the game should be the play of the midfielders, traditionally a Crimson strength.

The Crimson needs to establish control over the center of the field.

Only then can the Crimson apply the pressure they will need to score on the Minutewomen's "steel curtain" defense.

"This game matches strength against strength," Wheaton said. "We're going to have to play our hardest."