Center Chris Thomas scored four times as the freshman soccer team trampled Andover here yesterday, 5-1, in cold rain.
"Considering the weather, our forward line jelled together really well," said inside Leroy Thompson, who put in Harvard's other goal. "We feel each other's strengths and weaknesses now. Against Andover our attack was the smoothest yet."
Andover's diamond defense tended to leave Harvard's wings in the clear, and the Crimson halfback took advantage of this lack of coverage by booting through the opposition to the far corners of the field. In the opening seconds left wing Vinnie Vanderpool-Wallace, on receiving such a pass from half Brock Walsh, centered back to Thomas, who drilled a 5-yard skidding shot into the nets.
Chip Away
Less than three minutes later captain Dan Potts, the right outside, took a chip pass from half Dick Raines and kicked through to Thompson for Harvard's second quick goal. Wallace got another booming pass from Walsh early in the second quarter and tipped the ball to Thomas again. Thomas, this time just a few feet from the goal-line, danced around the Andover keeper and then popped the ball in.
Andover, demoralized by Harvard's powerful start, nevertheless managed to score in the first period on a long, hard-fought drive by Blue center Harland Williams. "After that goal I was afraid they might just come back to upset us," said Harvard Coach Dana Getchell.
The turning point of the game, according to Getchell, came when Harvard's goalie, Pete Zurkow, stopped an Andover penalty shot, and--in a brilliant second effort--blocked the re bound also, "If that shot had gone in, those prep school kids would've been just one down on us, 3-2, and psyched up as all hell on beating Harvard for the first time since the '50's." Getchell said.
As it happened Andover had no such luck. Shortly after the botched penalty shot, Thomas tallyed for the Crimson on a high looper from Walsh in midfield. Thomas--who "finally got his feet under him," according to Potts--converted yet again when inside Arty Fadan gave him a short, crisp through-pass.
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Class Conflict a la Harvard