One of the greatest squash teams in Harvard history came within one point of losing its season's opener yesterday to an Army team that showed more strength than anyone expected. The Crimson finally won, 5-4.

Despite Vic Niederhoffer's straight-game win over the Cadets' Richie Oehrlein in the number one match, the Crimson trailed 3-1 at the conclusion of the first four matches. The situation looked bleak. Usually dependable John Vinton was trailing 14-11 in his fifth and decisive game against Army's Jay Leyerzaph, and one more point would win the match for the Cadet.

But Vinton performed brilliantly under pressure and rallied to take the game and the match, 17-16.

It's a lucky thing he did, since number seven man Alan Terrell, plagued by a leg injury, dropped a marathon match to John Lake, 18-14, 15-11, 12-15, 15-10.

It was the Crimson's almost-perennial strength at the bottom of the ladder that stopped the Cadets. Sophomore star Dinny Adams walloped Rick Lofton, 15-7, 15-12, 18-14 in the number eight match, and veteran John Francis turned back Steve Lomback in the ninth spot, 18-15, 12-15, 15-12, 15-11.

The Crimson's other win came from number six man John Thorndike, who outlasted Pete Kantrowich, 15-5, 15-13, 16-17, 12-15, 15-6.

Thorndike was one of the squad members who had played on the soccer team this fall, and had only three weeks of practice. The other two soccer players--Lou Williams at number three and Terry Robinson, number four, dropped matches to their Army opponents.

But the real shocker for the Crimson came when number two man Bill Morris was upset by Walt Oehrlein, brother of the number one Cadet player, in a four-game match. Oehrlein won the last two games by resounding 15-6 scores.