Harvard Coach Bob Scalise calls it the key game of the Ivy season.

But considering that the Ivy season has hardly begun. It's slightly difficult to understand what's so key about tomorrow's women's soccer showdown it between Harvard and Brown.

That is, however, until you consider that the two league favorites come into the 11 a.m. showdown on Oniri Field undefeated and unscored upon.

It gets tad easier to understand once you also consider that less than year ago Brown defeated Harvard. 5.3 to take its second straight Ivy League championship.

And when you consider that the game will showcase the league's two players and two top goaltenders. It almost an understatement to say that the game could go a long way in determining who takes the 1984 league laurels.

A year ago, the Bruins took the league laurels by virtue of their 5-3 triumph over Harvard in Providence. Brown's Ivy League Rookie-of-the-Year Lynn Marinello scored four goals in the title deciding game.

Saturday will be Harvard's first chance for revenge. The Crimson enters the game sporting a 3-0-1 record and ranked 13th in the nation. And probably more spectacular, freshman goalie Tracee Whitley enters without having allowed a goal against in her four collegiate games.

Yet, the Crimson is not alone in its seller play. Brown has ripped through its first four opponents by a combined score at 13-0, and defeated highly touted UMass just two days ago.

The Bruins' answer to Whitley is Kathy Kostic, who like her Harvard counterpart has been perfect in her 360 minutes in goal this year.

But it could be the stars on the field mat turn Saturday's match-up into a classic. Brown will showcase not only Kostic but also high-scoring foreward Lynn Marinello.

In four games, the Bruin sophomore has already netted six goals, so it's little wonder Scalise says the key for Harvard will be to contain Marinello.

Meanwhile, Harvard will counter with Whitley and former All-American Kelly Landry, who had three goals in last year's loss.

What could make tomorrow's game even more interesting is that Landry enters the showdown just two points shy of equaling the all-time Harvard scoring record. Either one goal or two assists would the Landry with all-time leader Sue St. Louis. (See inset)

The matchup of the talented Bruin goalie and the talented Harvard forward could be the highlight of the game, and Kostic says she's excited about the prospect.

"The games we're played haven't been tough." Kostic says. "I'm looking forward to being tested by stronger teams in the future."