When Coach Jack Carr's soccer squad coasted over Brown last Saturday by a 2-1 count, it was a rejuvenated Crimson outfit once again on the march, this time in the last lap of their championship sprint. With a record untarnished except for a 3-3 tie with the Tigers, Captain Johnson and his versatile booting battalion have only Yale to trample under foot before assuming the crown of the New England League.

"We've got a strong team," Carr admits. This year it has been experience and coordination which has spelled their outstanding success. A hard-working lot with shifty passing and splendid ball control, the soccermen rolled over Tufts, Amherst, Dartmouth, and Springfield. When their accustomed accuracy faltered against the kickers from Nassan, the squad went into a decided slump which didn't let up for the M.I.T. encounter. "Against the Tigers we went stale," the Coach explained, "but I think we've pulled out of it now."

As a whole the team stands out among other League outfits for its clever heading, polished to a fine point by Carr, and for its fast outside positions which have consistently outmaneuvered the enemy backs and led the Crimson scoring attack. Until the M.I.T. match the centers were weak in leading winning plays, and while it was outstanding in midfield it lacked finish in the end zones.

"A crucial encounter" is the way Coach Carr defined the clash with the Bruins, who came up from Providence with "an inferior record" but inspired play. This League business is definitely a headache for the coach, because Harvard, being near the top, is continually on the defensive. "Every team comes down to knock us off," he complains, but Carr is confident that the Johnson outfit won't be stopped by the Elis.

Outstanding booter for the Crimson is Howie Mendel, fast left outside, a "finished player," and now high-scorer in the League. He has what Carr describes as "educated feet and scientific handling of the ball," and it is his left flank which is the mainstay of the forward line. On the other side Captain Johanson leads a fast running attack. Besides being second in scoring ability, he is the team's best trapper and header.

The center-forward post is commanded by Art Page, a shifty runner but a poor trapper, who has improved rapidly since his Freshman year. Perhaps the weakest part of the first line is in the inside positions which bear the brunt of passing and defense work midfield. Harden and Witkin, two Seniors, are average, experienced men. Carr finds it worthwhile to substitute Rousmaniers and Willets for about 25 minutes of each game to relieve the pressure of these posts.

Harvard is lucky in having one of the best goalies in New England to ward off the scoring thrusts of their opponents. Williams, who holds this job, has saved many a goal, although he was a little weak against M.I.T. Two capable defense men fill the fullback positions, Bradley, a steady and experienced players, and Hardenbergh, a Junior. The latter, who has booted the soccer ball for years, has a "fancy left foot," is undoubtedly the best kicker on the squad.

To put scoring plays in motion and to break up enemy attacks is the chief job of the halfbacks. Jacobson stands out among the rest in the center position as one of the best ball handlers on the team. Most promising of the new material is Edgar, only a Sophomore, who does a good job at left half. Phillips, on the right, is now battling for his position with Robin Scully. The latter started against M.I.T. and has a chance to keep the post.