NEW HAVEN, Conn., November 19,--Snapping back from a lethargic performance in the first half, which resulted in a scoreless tie. Harvard's soccer team netted two goals inside of three minutes to dispose of a tough, defense-minded Yale squad, 2-1, today.

"They (the Harvard players) were poor in the first half because they didn't play the style of game we talked about in our pre-game meeting." Crimson assistant coach Elliot Klein said. "In the second half they started using it, they liked it and it got results."

The style referred to is simply the constant application of the type of soccer Harvard plays best, the short passing ball-control game.

After 40 minutes of frustration for the Crimson in the first half. Harvard scored with 1:35 remaining in the third quarter. Senior captain Charlie Thomas floated a corner kick across the goal mouth where Chris Wilmot outjumped a pack of players. His head shot rammed into the bottom edge of the crossbar and fell into the net.

The Crimson converted a quick second goal with just 1:03 clapsed in the fourth period. Thomas scored when his corner kick was blocked and the rebound came straight to him about 15 yards to the left of the net. He quickly directed a curved shot towards the left corner and in an apparent mix-up between goalie Ken pasternak and fullback Tom Stocker. The ball curled in.

"Nobody knew it, but Stocker tried to head the shot away but it grazed the side of his head and deflected in." Pasternak said.

"The goal post was open from that angle and the shot just went through his arm it didn't hit anyone." Eli coach Hubert Vogelsinger explained.

In any event, the goal gave the Crimson the margin it needed to hold off a late Yale surge in the final four minutes. With 1:52 left, the Bulldogs came within a goal on a disputed play in front of the net.

"Wilmot was pushed and Rick Scott got hit in the throat." Harvard goalie Shep Messing said. "They both went down at the same time, it was just one of those things.

Bright spots for the Crimson today were found in the play of Chris Papagianis and Russ Bell, who both may have played the best games of the season.

"Harvard played very well today, but they did so because we pushed them." Vogelsinger said. "But I must say, they were better than I've seen them before."