outshine the 1980 team that finished third in the nation, the 1981 team that finished fifth and the 1982 team that finished eighth.
What may separate this squad from the others, though, is a highly touted freshman class that Scalise says "will push some people" for starting roles, and that will add a touch of youth to an extremely experienced squad.
"This is one of those rare years when it all seems to be coming together," Scalise says, explaining that he's never had such a combination of talented Yardlings and upperclassmen, except perhaps for that fall of 1981.
As for how talented this squad really is, consider that the 11 starters include six who have at some time in their career been first-team All-Ivy, and the four seniors who've been All-Americans.
Leading the way for Harvard is Landry, who this year should break just about every Harvard scoring record, and who Scalise says "can get us a goal any game at any time.
"I don't know of any team that has anyone as capable [as Landry]," the coach adds.
Some changes are still being made in the midfield and attacking areas, but Field will join Landry somewhere up front. She'll definitely be on the field, at either center or forward.
Also in the midfield area, sophomore Wendy Zeeben will get one starting position, while Co-Captain and former All-American Carrillo will get another.
Carrillo, however, will split some time with sophomore Linda Doyle in the early going, if for no other reason than to favor her reconstructed knee for a while.
Meanwhile, either sophomore Elects Sevier or junior Brigitte Duffy will call the wing position home, and both should see plenty of time no matter who starts.
And finally on offense, talented senior Co-Captain and former All-American Greeley will take charge at center halfback, making the combined midfield and attacking area one of the nation's most dangerous.
Defense could be the most changed area on the 1984 squad, with alterations in coaching philosophy as well as personnel adjustments.
"We're going to play more of a team defensive concept," Scalise says, adding that "in past years we played more of a one-on-one and sometimes got hurt because of it."
Larson will team with junior Ann Baker to provide the last line of defense.
Also on defense, senior Joan Elliott and Karen Garabaldi will see plenty of action.
In goal, Judge--who was a freshman in 1980 but took time off a to preserve a year of eligibility lost because of last year's injury--will handle the starting responsibilities and should give the Crimson the added edge it enjoyed two years ago. Lisa Rowning, who filled in for much of last year while Judge's ribs healed, is back, but will be pushed by freshman Tracee Whitley, a member of the under-19 girls' national team.
Judge's return could make one of the biggest differences for this year's squad, Scalise says, adding that in the past his teams haven't "been able to stop teams from scoring" when the starting goalie has gone down.
The only team in the Ivies that comes close to such a powerful lineup is Brown, which won the Ivy title a year ago and looks to be the Crimson's main rival to the title this year.
Brown is the two-time defending Ivy champ, but virtually everyone in the league expects the Crimson to snag the crown it last won in 1981--the year five freshmen burst on to the Crimson scene and put Harvard on a four-year course to greatness.
THE NOTEBOOK: UMass is the pick of the East, but Harvard beat the Minutemen, who finished third in the nation a year ago, with just one week to play in the season...The four former All-Americans are Greeley, Field, Landry and Carrillo...There's a familar face on the Crimson fields this fall, and it belongs to former Harvard midfielder and current Harvard Assistant Coach Laurie Gregg, who replaces Suzanne Kaplan, now the head coach at Boston College.
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