SOCCER NOTEBOOK

Harvard Coach Steve Locker had enough to be frustrated about yesterday at Ohiri Field. The Boston University defense. The uninspired play of his attack.

And (we haven't heard this before) poor refereeing.

Normally subdued, Locker took to rushing the field after referee Dilvo Diplacido (whose name provided more than a few expletives for Crimson fans) issued Harvard its third yellow card at 25:31 of the first half, this time to flustered junior Joe Bradley.

Locker didn't make it far onto the field, however, as well-groomed line referee Ted Carlson blocked his path. "He went for the legs," Locker shouted to Diplacido, trying to work his way past Carlson. But the burly Carlson had only one response: "Stay on the field," he repeated.

Locker did, but his message seemed to get through. The next yellow card went to BU 10 minutes later to junior forward Okereke Emesih, a pesky Nigerian who kept Harvard's defense backtracking all afternoon.

The Player: Locker also spread his words of wisdom onto senior Juan Betancourt.

With 12:37 left in the game, the referees suspended play so Betancourt could wipe blood off his nose.

Handed a paper towel and a cup of water by trainer B.J. Baker, Betancourt cleaned himself up, while Locker consoled him: "Now you're a real player, Juan. Now you're a real player."

Oh So International: Maybe it's just popular perception, but BU seems to draw the bulk of its students from Beantown suburbs and Long Island.

No one would make that mistake with the Terriers' soccer team, however. BU looks more like a training ground for foreign nationals who couldn't make their World Cup teams rather than an American collegiate soccer team.

Coach Neil Roberts draws from a worldwide recruiting base. Here's a sampling of some of his player's homes: England (4), Norway (3), Nigeria, Costa Rica, Spain, Italy and Ireland.

That list includes two of his top players: Emisah from Aba, Nigeria (second in scoring) and goalie Robert Forde from Galway, England (1.09 goals-against-average).

Just imagine Roberts' frequent flyer miles from all those recruiting trips.

No Big Rest: Harvard doesn't get much chance to rest. The Crimson faces Cornell tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Ohiri Field.