Crimson Heads to Northerns

For a team used to disappointment, the Harvard men’s water polo squad is tired of hearing, “There’s always next year.”

After working to earn the second-seed in the Northern Division Championships hosted by Brown, the players realize there is no better time to win than now.

When the Crimson dives into the pool for its first match Saturday against Connecticut College at Northerns, it’ll have one goal in mind—win at all costs. The team’s success will depend in large part on its powerful offense led by co-captain Rick Offsay.

A Harvard victory over the Camels would earn it a berth in the Eastern Championships and the possibility of qualifying for the NCAA tournament.

“This is the game we’ve been training for all year,” said Harvard head coach Erik Farrar. “Qualifying for Easterns was one of the primary goals.”

THE ROAD LESS TAKEN

After a disappointing 4-14 finish last year, Farrar has turned the team around in his first year with the Crimson, leading it to a 6-1 record in the Northern division—tying its best finish ever.

The resulting second seed at Northerns, in turn, has provided Harvard with an easier path to Easterns.

All four teams that win their first game at Northerns automatically qualify for Easterns. The outcome of the remaining two games the Crimson will play at Northerns would determine seeding for Easterns.

“Our first and foremost goal is to win the first game,” Offsay said. “Then we’ll play as hard possible so we can ensure an easier game in the first round of Easterns.”

A more painless route through the Easterns would be highly desirable—the winner receives an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.

“You have to essentially win the Easterns to make it to the NCAAs,” Farrar said. “Last year Navy won, but this year, it’s anybody’s guess.”

THE CAMELS’ HUMP

Before the Crimson can begin thinking about the Easterns or the NCAA tournament, it must take care of the Camels. Though it was routed by Harvard 17-3 at Blodgett Pool earlier this year, four weeks have elapsed since that game—giving Connecticut College ample time to think of ways to hold Harvard’s offense down.

“I think [the score] could be much closer this time,” Farrar said. “Connecticut College is significantly improved.”

While Farrar insists that the first-round match could be competitive, Offsay has Camels’ head coach J.J. Addison worried. Addison, who graduated from the same high school as Offsay, is aware of the hole set’s strong water polo background and offensive prowess.

“We know Rick’s going to get his goals,” Addison said. “With a player with his kind of strength and talent, it’s not a question of stopping him—it’s about trying to limit him.”

In preparation for the inevitable double- teams that Offsay will face, the Crimson has been working on techniques to sustain the offense.

“We’ve been moving the ball from top to bottom and setting picks here and there,” co-captain Mike Gerrity said. “If we get the offense moving, Rick will get open more often—as will other people.”

“The way to attack any zone defense is with movement,” Farrar added. “The drop defense leaves people open on the perimeter.”

On the other side, Connecticut College will also focus on finding holes in the Harvard defense that suffocated it so thoroughly in the teams’ first matchup.

“We struggled with Harvard’s press defense last time we played them,” Addison said. “It’s something we’ve been working on in practice. We’re going to do our best to use the foul and use our ball handlers more.”

No matter how one-sided the game might seem, the Crimson is taking nothing for granted.

“We’re taking this very, very seriously,” Farrar said. “It’s a game that we absolutely must win. No equivocation about it.”

POWER OF THE DEN

If Harvard and Brown have the same result in the first game—either both win or both lose—they will meet each other in the second round.

In a rematch of the heated contest the Crimson won 6-2 Oct. 14 at Blodgett Pool, the two Ivy schools would then battle in the Bears’ Smith Swim Center—a place known for its roaring crowd.

“Playing Brown is always very intense,” sophomore John Voith said. “Their fans are known to be very rowdy.”

Farrar, who both played and coached for Brown, knows about the rivalry firsthand.

“At Brown, everyone hates Harvard,” the Bears alumnus said.

Though Farrar would be facing his former team, he asserts that his previous ties would have no bearing on the game.

“It’s not my old team,” Farrar said. “I never coached those guys. It’s a very different dynamic.”

While Brown would hold the home advantage in a matchup in Providence, the Crimson sees it as further incentive to play well. Offsay, who described the play of the Bears as comparable to a pro-wrestling match, is eager to overcome Brown’s thuggery once again.

“I get a big boost out of playing in front of their crowd,” Offsay said. “We’re going to be trying to shut them up as best we can.”

TAMING THE TERRIERS

If all goes as planned, Harvard’s opponent in the championship game would be St. Francis.

The only team to go through the regular season undefeated in Northern division play, the top-seeded Terriers are the favorites to win the tournament. But although they defeated Harvard 22-11 the first time the two teams met, the game was much closer than the score indicated.

“In that game, Harvard hit the post maybe six times,” said St. Francis coach Carl Quigley. “That makes a significant difference in the outcome. It’s too easy to get caught up in the score.”

Furthermore, that game was only the Crimson’s second match of the season, and Farrar had just taken over at the helm. Harvard has improved significantly over the past six weeks, winning its last five games against Northern division opponents.

“Our team has matured and gelled in the course of the season,” Voith said. “This time we play [the Terriers], it will be a different game.”

The game could be different for more reasons than one. The NCAA is currently carrying out an inquiry concerning whether some St. Francis players played professionally in Europe before joining the Terriers. Because the NCAA cannot, by policy, comment on ongoing investigations, the number of players being inspected and the exact nature of the inquiry could not be confirmed.

But Jim Hoffman, the compliance director at St. Francis, did admit that players on the team were being investigated.

“Somebody has questioned their previous involvement with teams that may or may not have been professional,” Hoffman said.

While nothing implicating has yet been found, any evidence of professional involvement would make the concerned players ineligible immediately.

The Crimson, however, is more concerned with eliminating the errors that were responsible for its loss to the Terriers.

“The first time we played [St Francis], we made a bushel-full of mistakes,” Farrar said. “They’re a strong team, and they’re just very good at punishing your mistakes.”

“Our biggest advantage is our mental game,” Offsay added. “We need to just slow the game down and play smart.”

And the Terriers know that Harvard will come ready to play.

“Harvard will be there,” Quigley said. “They are well-coached, well-disciplined, and they should be a formidable opponent.”