What is a Harvard soccer team without Chris Ohiri?
Coach Bruce Munro will begin to learn the answer to this question today at 3 p.m. when the Crimson hosts Tufts on the Business School Field.
With luck, the Crimson could have a reasonably good year. But without the great Nigerian--who rewrote virtually every Ivy scoring record and led Harvard to three straight league championships--the Crimson will need a miracle to retain the league title.
In addition to Ohiri, the Crimson has lost three other outstanding players from the 1962 squad--inside left John Thorndike, fullback Lou Williams, and center-half Onwechekwa Okigwe, who was ruled ineligible two weeks ago.
On defense, Harvard will be reasonably strong. Halfbacks Bob Knapp and Captain Lawrie Coburn, fullbacks Wally Winslow and Ed Robinson, and goalies Nat Bowditch and Jim Tyng are all experienced players.
Sophomores Promising
A large number of promising sophomores from last year's 7-1-1 freshman squad, including halfbacks Teny Marks and Andy Kydes and fullbacks Alex Patton and Kari Lunkenheimer, will bolster the booters defensively.
But the team's offense is punch-poor. Munro will hope to develop a balanced attack this season, which was obviously impossible with a super-star like Ohiri on the team. A few front-liners remain from last year's squad, including center Keith Chiappa, Hugh Polk at inside left and Fred Akuffo at inside right. They too should receive considerable support from sophomores. Inside left Akinlabi Adewole and Charlie Njoku, Ohiri's cousin, look particularly promising.
Scrimmage Victory
Munro was very much encouraged by the team's victory Saturday in a scrimmage against a Toronto amateur team. But the team's chances this year will depend largely on the performance of the sophomores, and Munro's ability to put together a combination with some scoring punch.
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