After netting eight goals against Brandeis three weeks ago, the offense went into a goal-a-game slump which was recently broken with three multiple-goal wins.

The defense, which started as the squad's weak link, turned around and carried the team during the mid-season.

But injuries and inconsistency haven't stopped the Crimson. An 8-0-2 overall record, the top spot in the Ivy League (3-0), and a fifth-place national ranking attest to Harvard's ability to adapt to all situations. The Crimson is the only team in the national top 10 sporting an undefeated mark.

"Not playing is always tough," D'Ornellas said. "But we have a lot of depth on the team, and we're still playing well."

The Ever-Present Midfield: Sandwiched between the taped-up front and back fields is a trio of midfielders who have played a key role for the Crimson this season. Senior Nick Hotchkin, junior Ramy Rajballie and sophomore Paul Baverstock have been solid contributors for Harvard--Rajballie leads the team in assists (six), Baverstock is tied for second-highest scorer with eight points, and Hotchkin has two goals and three assists for seven points.

Hall Call: Junior goalie Stephen Hall currently has 47 saves, an 0.58 goals-against average and a 90.4 save percentage. Hall and junior Chad Reilly--who earned his second win in Harvard's 5-1 triumph over Hartford Tuesday--have combined for five shutouts.