1996

Sports Statistics

Record: 16-2, 7-1 Ivy

Ivy Finish: First

Coach: Steve Locker

Key Players: Seniors Wil Kohler, Kevin Silva; Junior Tom McLaughlin; Sophomore Jordan Dupuis

1997

It was the ultimate rebound.

Cornell, last season's Ivy League co-champion, rocked the 1996 Harvard men's soccer team with three goals in less than 20 minutes in the Crimson's season opener. The Big Red seemed poised to cruise through another season, as the victory extended Cornell's regular-season winning streak to 14 games.

Harvard, meanwhile, could not score against goalie Hermant Sharma until the 89th minute of the game, on a penalty kick.

"I was nervous," said senior Rich Wilmot. "I thought [the '95 season, when Harvard went 6-8-3] was just starting again."

On a sunny Saturday against Columbia, however, Harvard made the first step in a dramatic ascent--a climb which would lead to two school records, an Ivy League championship and a thrilling NCAA tournament postseason.

Initially though, the challenge seemed just as dramatic. Before they faced the Crimson, the Lions had allowed just one goal in their last 786 minutes.

Harvard rendered that statistic mute at 27:09, when Wilmot scored to give the Crimson its first lead of the season. Wilmot added another goal and senior John Vrionis and junior Tom McLaughlin, playing his first year at forward after making the switch from defense, also scored against the Lions in the 4-1 win.

"That game started the ball rolling," Vrionis said. "It was good to get our confidence back."