The Harvard fencing team, opening its season today at Southeastern Massachusetts University. barely resembles the powerhouse that coach Edo Marion envisioned last winter.

"In the middle of last season, we were looking to be the best fencing team in the east this year." Marion said yesterday, "But things have fallen."

Tom Keller, runner-up in the foil at the national championships last year. is gone So too are all-Ivy epee Geza Tatrallyay and sabre Toni Abbott.

Keller. a junior, dropped from the squad this fall. "It's too bad. He was a prominent, an excellent, fencer. He could have made fencing history at Harvard this year." Marion said of Keller.

Tatrallyay, number one epee last season, is on a leave of absence to work in the Canadian pavilion at Expo '70 in Tokyo, and Abbott, a senior, has academic commitments that he has to meet.

Larry Cetrulo, number one sabre for last year's 10-3 squad is back, and captain Cliff Ruderman will move up to number one foil. But the season will not be a easy one for the Crimson fencers.

SMU has not posed much of a threat to Harvard fencers in the past, so Marion will use mostly sophomores today. The first real test of the team should come against CCNY next Saturday.

John Reitz and Paul Viita head up the epee, the Crimson's strong point in Marion's estimation. "Reitz is determined to do." he said. Vita is technically an excellent fencer, but he has not performed well in past competition.

Despite the loss of three sure performers, Marion is optimistic. "We will still have a winning season," he said. "We are all working pretty hard and these sophomores are determined."