Bear Fact: W. Booters Want Victory

Harvard and Brown are two teams with something to prove.

The Harvard women's soccer team (2-1-0 overall, 1-0-0 Ivy) wants to legitimize its quest for the Ancient Eight title with a victory over an Ivy power (Columbia doesn't count).

Brown, off to a disastrous 0-3-1 start (0-1-0 Ivy) after nine consecutive championships, is rabid for a win.

"We're looking for some redemption," warned John Fischer, Brown sports information director.

"We have to play like we know we can," said Crimson Coach Tim Wheaton.

There can only be one winner in today's contest. No moral victories here.

The outcome hinges on which team establishes the tempo of the game.

"Brown favors a fast, end-to-end game with quick plays up the wing," Wheaton said. "A control game would favor us."

"We're going to take away their strengths and play to ours," he said.

Much of the Crimson's strength lies in the ability of its front line to create scoring opportunities and the skill of its midfield play.

This matches up nicely with the Bears principal weakness; inexperience in goal.

Brown's freshman goalie Kristen Stevens has an atrocious 2.73 goals against average, with a .633 save percentage.

If the Crimson can exploit this weakness, the killer attack trio of Co-Captain Robin Johnson Jen Minkus and Laurie Uustal should have a field day.

Harvard's defense, however, will have to shut down Brown's high octane attack.

Brown returns scoring assassin Nicki-Barber and last year's team point leader, Jennifer Drake.

"They're athletic and aggressive, and they've given us a lot of trouble in the past," Wheaton said.

Junior Erin Matias leads the defense that will have to shut these two down.

Combined with the brilliant play of sophomore goalie Brooke Donahoe, the Crimson defense has allowed just four goals so far this season.

So far this year, Brown has yet to score four goals.

The Bears opened their season with games against national powers Duke and North Carolina.

Brown lost to Duke, 3-1, and was then thrashed by UNC, 8-0.

Returning home, they lost their Ivy opener 1-0 to archrival and soceer power Yale.

"We should have won that game," Fischer said. "We were just unlucky, and some of our shots didn't go in."

The same type of luck has plagued the Crimson offense.

Against Columbia, Harvard unleashed 46 shots but only scored three goals.

Wheaton is not worried.

"As long as we get the quality shots, we'll score eventually," he said.

How Sweet It Is

Last year, Brown defeated Harvard, 4-0, at Ohiri Field in the Crimson's worst loss to Brown ever.

"Revenge is always a factor," said Johnston, who was held scoreless in last year's loss.

But Wheaton raised the more fundamental issue.

"We don't need inducement to get the team excited to play Brown," Wheaton said. "Today's game is going to go to whichever team has a better day."

But in games of this magnitude, there is often another force at work, the coach added.

"And a little good fortune wouldn't hurt either team."