The Princeton lacrosse team rolled into Cambridge yesterday for a day of practice before its first Ivy League game with Harvard at 2:30 p.m. today at Soldiers Field.

On the field the Tigers found Harvard captain Tom Nicosia leading the team through a short, light drill. But the casual practice did not show the determination that Harvard was feeling after its two disappointing losses to Brown and Cornell last week.

Harvard is up for the game. A pre-season, dark horse candidate for the Ivy championship this year, the squad has been virtually eliminated from the race by last week's losses.

Tigers Haven't Won

Princeton, which won the Ivy title last year, has a 0-5-1 record through its early contests. But the poor record reflects the caliber of the opposition more than Tiger weakness. All the Princeton games were against nationally-ranked teams. The one tie was with NCAA co-champion Maryland, which is favored to retain its NCAA crown.

Harvard has not beaten the Tigers since 1925, but Princeton is showing no regard for tradition. Today's game is their first chance to test their strength against Ivy competition. They have scouted the Crimson three times.

Golf

Harvard's golf team travels to Ithaca today for a crucial match with undefeated Cornell.

The golfers boast a 7-1 record, but today's contest will prove the true mettle of the team.

With most of last year's players returning, Cornell has been impressive this season. Harvard defeated the Big Red last year, but as Bruce Lopucki, number two man, said, "We lucked out."

Cornell will be playing on its home course today, and familiarity with the course will be "to their advantage," Coach Cooney Weiland said yesterday. But he added, "I think we will give a good account of ourselves."

Senior captain Bo Keefe, who won the Greater Boston Medallion for the second year in a row last Monday, will lead the squad today in the number one spot. No changes are planned for any of the other positions.