M. Lax Explodes for 19-2 Win Over B.C.

The Harvard men's lacrosse team took a while to warm-up in the windy mix of rain and hail that saturated Jordan Field Saturday, but by the fourth frame the Crimson was coasting to a 19-2 romp over a besieged Boston College team.

It was clearly a nifty move in scheduling that the Crimson faced a weak Eagles team in the season opener.

After last season's 13-5 loss to Fairfield in the opener and the dismal season that followed, there was little doubt that the Crimson was trying to start things off differently, as the starters played well into the fourth period and the lead climbed well into double digits.

The Crimson (1-0) constructed the blowout with playbook execution in its first game of the season and its first on the new synthetic carpet that will split the home turf role with Ohiri Field.

Freshman Doug Logigian found Roger Buttles in front of the net for the eventual game-winner with two minutes left in the first period, but the Crimson started slowly, notching its first goal after nearly eight minutes of play against the overmatched Eagles.

As the game went on, however, the Crimson found its footing on the wet turf and began to dominate around the goalmouth.

Senior Geoff Watson's goal to begin the fourth period signaled the slaughter that was the final stanza.

Junior Adam McGowan, who controlled the center stripe all afternoon, ripped the ball out of the faceoff and scooped up a groundball in one movement, running down on the B.C. defense to take the point on a four-on-three fast break.

McGowan hit freshman Matt Primm to his left, who then drew one of three B.C. defenders as he moved down to the left side of the net. Quickly looking back across the net, Primm's glance drew the off side defender away from the other side of the crease, leaving Watson alone on the far post.

Primm found Watson, and Watson cashed in.

And that was just the first 11 seconds of the period.

When the horn sounded, the Crimson had tallied eight goals in the final fifteen minutes.

Primm's assist at 14:49 was his fourth point of the afternoon and his first of what would be five in the final frame. The attackman finished his first collegiate game with six goals and two assists.

Attackmen Dana Sprong and Watson, both fixtures in last year's offense, were pervasive around the crease yesterday, continuously producing throughout the game. Watson ended up with three goals and three assists, while Sprong netted two and set up another four.

Senior attackman Lawson DeVries, who had trouble finding his rhythm last season, also got off to a good start with a goal and a pair of helpers.

Perhaps the greatest sign for this year's Crimson was the efficiency in clears out of the backfield. Sloppy transition out of the defensive end plagued Harvard all of last year, especially towards the end of the season when the team dropped seven straight to finish at 3-10.

In Saturday's game the Crimson completed 24 clears of 26 attempts, aided in part by a winded B.C. midfield and a strong defensive effort.

The back line facilitated the transition with a combination of cross-field passing and strong runs past--and sometimes through--the B.C. middies.

The play in the back is especially positive since Harvard lost last year's New England Rookie of the Year, sophomore defenseman Mike Meagher, to a hip injury for the season.

"I think there is more confidence and more experience back there," senior goalie Keith Cynar said. "We have pretty much the same defensive unit coming back, and that helps a lot."

Cynar, who is returning for his third season between the posts, allowed both goals and had 12 saves on the day before junior Ely Kahn took to the cage with 9:30 left in the fourth period.

Cynar was named a pre-season All-American candidate earlier this year.

The clearing and fluid play around the net are a good sign for a Crimson team with high expectations. Harvard lost no contributor from last season's campaign: they are returning every person who scored every goal, got every assist and made every save.

Postseason hopes are high along the sidelines.

" Getting into the postseason is a very possible goal," Cynar said. "Every year we always focus on an Ivy championship and then start thinking about the NCAAs. I think this squad can do it."

This is the first year in which the Ivy League champion will receive an automatic berth into the NCAAs.

The Crimson now has a week off before it meets Colgate at home this Saturday.