Harvard's water polo club. undefeated through three easy matches this spring, will test its real strength tonight when it faces Springfield College, last year's New England Tournament runner-up, at the Chiefs' pool.
Harvard's starting unit, having lost only one player from the squad that captured seventh place in the National Indoor AAU Championship last year, is more experienced and has an excellent chance to regain national ranking.
The Crimson had little trouble drowning Northeastern last week in two games, 11-4 and 9-2. The second game ended after only two quarters.
Against the Huskies, Harvard's starting team took an early lead and then substituted freely throughout the remainder of the contest. Dave Powlison, who joined the squad after the completion of the swimming season, led all scorers with six goals.
Leland Faust, Larry Hunt, Tom McGill, Norm Whitely, and club president and captain Terry Flanagan completed the scoring rout. Many Crimson players were absent from the games because of spring recess.
Referee's Decisions
Goalie Peter Kertes played a fine game, holding Northeastern to only four goals in five quarters. Two of these goals came on close referee's decisions when it appeared that the Huskies were within the two-yard line in front of the ball. Such a position is a technical foul and disallows any goal scored.
With the addition of Med student Larry Hunt at left forward. Harvard has experienced players at every position and strong bench support. "In fact." captain Flanagan said. "we have the ability this year to play several different kinds of teams depending on the opposition."
"We have a swimming team, a ball-handling team, and a strong defensive unit that can handle anybody we face," Flanagan added. But tonight. Springfield is expected to offer the closest and hardest-?ought game of the season.
Offensive VP
Offensive vice-president Powlison felt that the team's experience would greatly enhance the squad's scoring potential. "Whereas last year's team played mostly by memory and instinet, this season's squad has the practice and conditioning to create a real powerhouse," Powlison said.
The Crimson's home schedule opens on Saturday afternoon with back-to-back games with Bowdoin and Columbia.
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Marching From the Common