The Harvard men's soccer team's past dominance over Fairfield University-a 3-0 record and a 14-0 goal differential-was a big psychological edge for the Crimson yesterday.

HARVARD 3

FAIRFIELD 1

Harvard faced a rejuvenated Stags team in the midst of the most successful season in the program's history. Fairfield came into the game with some talented transfers, a gaudy 14-2 record and their first top-25 national ranking. Yet most of the Harvard players felt that they might be playing a paper tiger.

"It was hard for us to believe that they were that good," said captain Andrew Lundquist. "In some ways we felt like we were the underdog but we weren't intimidated, especially playing at home."

The Crimson (5-6-1, 2-3 Ivy) continued its dominance with a convincing 3-1 victory at Ohiri Field in the team's strongest performance of the season.

The game was decided in an exciting first thirty minutes of play, which saw all four goals scored and three yellow cards assessed.

Freshman Nick Lenicheck sparked the first goal with some nifty footwork on the left flank eight minutes into the game. He cut the ball back on his defender just inside of the sideline and then found junior Armando Petruccelli free at the top of the 18-yard box. From there, Harvard's leading scorer smashed home his seventh goal of the season.

"It's great to get that first goal of the game when you're playing a good opponent," Lenicheck said. "We wanted to attack early and try to bury them."

Petruccelli was involved in the second goal as well, which came less than five minutes after the first. His free kick found the head of sophomore Ryan Kelly, who put the ball past the charging Fairfield goaltender Danny Glynn for a 2-0 advantage.

Fairfield got back into the game with a garbage goal in the box in the 21st minute. The Stags Lee Williams crossed the ball into the box and Ryan Miosek tracked it down and put it in the back of the net.

However, that was the only mistake that a steady Harvard defense made all game. The Crimson has relied on senior goaltender Jordan Dupuis to make crucial saves all season, but he drew a lighter load yesterday, having to make only four.

"Except for that one breakdown, I think we were much more solid in the back," said senior Lee Williams. "We've been flat in mid-week and non-league games fairly often this year, but we were ready for this game."

Will Hench put the Crimson firmly in control of the game when he notched his third goal of the season at 30:21. Lenicheck once again perpetrated on the left sideline, wheeling and dealing and finding his teammate at the top of the box for his seventh assist of the year.

The Crimson's three-goal effort was a surprising result against a Fairfield team that boasted one of the stingiest defenses in the country. The Stags had already notched 11 shutouts and had allowed only 13 goals in their first 17 games.

"Effort and desire-wise, I think it was our best game of the year, and we got a few good breaks as well," Williams said. "We've had games where we've missed five or six early opportunities, but today things came together."

"Overall, I think this was our best effort of the year," Lundquist said. "We played well for all 90 minutes, which we hadn't done yet this season."

Dartmouth rolls into town this weekend for a big matchup at Ohiri Field and brings a higher caliber of competition. The Big Green's 9-2-1 record has been well earned, unlike Fairfield's mark which came against mediocre competition.

Dartmouth is in second place in the Ivy League standings and is nationally ranked despite having lost to Cornell last weekend. Harvard will have to muster a similar effort if it expects to walk away with a victory against the Big Green. HARVARD, 3-1 at Ohiri Field Harvard  3  0  -  3 Fairfield  1  0  -  1

Scoring Har-Petruccelli (Lenicheck) 7:19. Har-Kelly (Petruccelli) 12:04. Fair-Miosek (Williams) 20:10. Har-Hench (Lenicheck) 30:21. Saves: Har-Dupuis 4; Fair-Glynn 1, Sheckley 3.