Regardless, the first big challenge for Chen and the rest of the Crimson squad will come in a mere week and half against Eastern foe, Queens. Although the matchup comes early on in the season, a victory against the New York squad could spell serious dividends come seeding time for the Eastern Qualifying Championships in October.

Last year mid-season losses to both Queens and Massachusetts-both Eastern opponents-dropped Harvard into the bottom half of the draw. Thus instead of facing a weaker first-round opponent such as MIT or Boston College, Harvard was pitted against an always strong Brown team. As a result, for two years straight, the Bears have kept the Crimson out of the Eastern championship.

A year ago, however, no one had expected Harvard to even reach that stage, but this season expectations are much higher.

"I don't think that if you had asked at the start of last season how we would have done, we wouldn't have predicted that we would have been battling for Easterns down to the final seconds, " Benson said. "This year we expect to go and do well there. If we don't make it then it would be a tremendous defeat for us. "

With this renewed confidence and excitement in the Harvard water polo program, an early season matchup against a quality opponent such as Queens is just what the players want.

"I think that we have a very positive outlook on this season, " Zimmerman said. "I think that [Queens] will come out of shape and since they have a new coach, they won't have much of a structure. "

With a jumble of new and old faces, the Crimson will embark on a new season once again. How different this year will be remains the final question to be answered.

It all starts on September 12 against UMass.