NEW HAVEN - The Crimson booters affixed an exclamation mark to the end of their season with a 6-1 rout of Yale Friday afternoon.
If Harvard had been a bit disappointed a week earlier at its dashed hopes for a tournament berth, it had every reason to put that behind. The team reached its goal of a .500 Ivy season (3-3-1, 6-4-4 overall) and it cannot be forgotten that back in September that prediction had seemed a bit optimistic. Post-season play had not even been considered.
Gone Wild
After gaining a 2-0 lead in a evenly played first half on two Harold Martin goals, the Crimson went wild in the second, notching four goals to Yale's one in its best half of soccer all season.
"I was a bit worried at the half," Coach George Ford said after the game. "We let them get into the game," in the last 20 minutes of the first half after Martin's goals. Ford added, however, "We went back to the wings," after the break.
The third goal, which opened the flood gates, was one of the nicest you'll ever see. It was a Lee Nelson diving header off a low cross from the left corner by Alberto Villar. This was worthy of opening film footage from ABC Wide World of Sports--Pele shoots, scores and the fans go wild.
"I saw Alberto breaking down the right wing," Nelson said, describing the play after the game. "I just knew where he was going to put the ball so I headed for the space. I had to dive but it was a perfect chip."
Two Quickies
The next two goals came within a minute of each other. Andy Kronfield scored assited by Nelson and then Villar took a through pass from Nelson (one goal, three assists), dribbled by two Yale defenders and drilled the ball between Eli goalie John Ertmann and the left post.
Yale slipped onto the scoreboard at 81:10 after Captain Fred Herold was removed from the nets to a standing ovation from the Crimson contingent. Paul Farago jumped on a loose ball for the Eli score.
Antonio Ardila, after missing several golden chances, scored the final Harvard goal assisted by Steve Yakopec.
Numerous players deserve citation, including Mike Smith and Brian O'Connor, whose aggressive midfield play helped to turn the tide in Harvard's favor. Then there are seniors Harold Martin and Fred Harold, who finished their Harvard careers in style. Martin tallied the deciding goals of the contest and Herold ended his three-year reign in the Crimson nets with an 81-minute shutout performance.
The victory was particularly sweet for the two since neither had ever defeated the Elis. As Herold said, "It's always good to beat Yale."
Read more in Sports
Rocket Roger Captures Third A.L. Cy Young AwardRecommended Articles
-
Nelson Turns the Trick In 4-1 Crimson TriumphLee Nelson was annoyed before yesterday's Amherst soccer game that freshman Walter Diaz was tied with him for the team
-
Crimson Soccer Teams Draw at WilliamstownThe Harvard soccer team is positively incestuous. The Crimson kissed its sister for the third time in four outings yesterday,
-
Crimson Boots Wesleyan, 5-2The varsity soccer team evened its season record at 1-1 by notching a 5-2 win over a feisty Wesleyan University
-
Crimson Booters Tame Lions, 2-1; Nelson Sparks Rusty Harvard OffenseIt was just not a good day for the Columbia soccer team Saturday. To begin with, the Lions' sky-blue flag
-
Late BC Comeback Gives W. Lacrosse First LossAfter overcoming a colossal 7-2 deficit to win in an overtime thriller on Saturday, the Harvard women’s lacrosse team looked
-
1926 BLANKS ANDOVER IN FIFTH STRAIGHT VICTORYPlaying the best hockey they have shown this year, the Freshman hockey team scored a 3 to 0 victory over