Over the past six years the nature of the junior varsity soccer program at Harvard has changed drastically. Originally an opportunity for ex-high school varsity players to continue playing organized soccer, the team this year developed into a "varsity farm club" that could provide depth for next fall's varsity team.
"After six years we're finally taken for granted," assistant coach Seamus Malin said. "We play a ten-game schedule. We practice every day with the varsity. We're developing players now who definitely could move up into the varsity eighteen."
Fortunately for the varsity, the JV team produced a strong midfield nucleus that resulted in a 7-1-2 record. "We were strong up the middle and that should help next year," Malin said.
A good halfback prospect is sophomore Rob Adams. Malin described him as a tenacious player who, although he lacked a professional finish, gave 100 per cent throughout the game.
A second halfback contender is junior Bob Woods. For the past two years, Woods has played on the varsity reserve, but next year the defensive-oriented halfback could move into a starting position in a 3-4-3 or 3-3-4 formation.
Too Bad
Unfortunately, the JV team does not offer a strong prospect for a fourth varsity fullback.
On the forward line, however, the Crimson should have great scoring depth. Bob Auritt, Henry Sideropoulos, and Bahman Mossavar-Rahmani, all sophomores, will each challenge for reserve positions. An impotent attack bothered the JV team all fall, but Auritt and Mossavar-Rahmani were both injured.
"These guys may not be starters right away," Malin said, "but they can provide a strong 10- or 15-minute substitution that will not weaken the first-team effort a bit,"
Read more in News
All Things Must Pass Living Without the Beatles