The Harvard men's water polo team entered this weekend's New England Championships with one goal in mind-to qualify for the Eastern Championships.

And it succeeded, nabbing a second place finish and a trip to the Easterns next weekend at West Point.

The aquamen easily handled MIT, 15-9, and then Yale, 7-4. But in the final of the five-team tournament. Brown bashed Harvard, 15-8.

Everything went pretty much as expected. The Bruins-ranked eighth in the nation--were the only team in the tournament that Harvard had not beaten this season. Harvard has never beaten Brown in water polo.

The aquadudes were satisfied with then second place finish.

"They just outmanned us," said junior Rob Streams. "We played well, but we just didn't win."

Goalie Brian Graham agreed, "We played an excellent second half," he said "it was a fun game to play."

The MIT game "wasn't as close as the score sound "said Strauss, who had four goals against the Beavers. "They weren't ever close," he added.

Nearly everyone on the Harvard squad got in on the action against MIT. Captain Adam Button scored three goals, while Chris Standaert and freshman Frederick Scherrer also added to the scoring.

Button and Strauss contributed three goals each in Harvard's win over Yale

"We were controlling that game so well that it was no problem," said Strauss.

Yale didn't get on the scoreboard until the thrird quarter, when the Crimson already had a comfortable five goal lead

Saturday, the Crimson advances to the Eastern Championships where it will face the best eight teams in the East, including Brown and Navy, to whom Harvard lost earlier this season.

"We're looking for a good showing because we played so well this week," said Strauss.

If Harvard fares well next weekend, it will have a chance for a rematch against Brown or Navy, and the aquamen will be prepared.

"If we play Navy or Brown, we'll give them a good game," said Strauss. "We're not going to roll over and play dead."

THE NOTEBOOK--Harvard defenseman Bruce Novis was struck by a car while riding his bike to the bus Saturday morning, but he checked in at UHS and was cleared to play...Among other teams at the Easterns will be Richmond, Slippery Rock. Army and Bucknell.