If distance makes the heart grow fonder, the Harvard men's soccer team should be longing for a return to postseason play this year.

After suffering through a disappointing 6-7-4 (2-2-3 Ivy) season in 1997 and a fourth-place finish in the league standings, the Crimson failed to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Now Harvard hopes to regain the form that captured two of the last four Ivy League titles.

"Our goal is to get back to the Tournament," said captain Andrew Lundquist. "With the talent we have, I think we should be in good shape."

The most difficult part of returning to NCAAs for the Crimson will be replacing its two First-Team All-Ivy players, Tom McLaughlin '98 and Ricky Le '98. McLaughlin was also the 1997 Ivy League Player of the Year and the league's scoring leader, accounting for over 40 percent of Harvard's offensive production.

"Tom is going to be difficult to replace, but our core of players is back," said junior midfielder Ryan Keeton.

"In one sense we are lucky that we only lost three players," said senior sweeper Lee Williams. "Obviously we're going to miss Tommy's points, but we also have other people who can score."

Replacing McLaughlin will be no easy task, but the Crimson might have the talent to do it. Harvard returns eight starters from last year's squad, including Keeton and fellow junior midfielder and All-Ivy Second-Teamer Will Hench.

Hench is Harvard's leading returning scorer, having tallied five goals and three assists in 1997.

"The play of Will Hench and Ryan Keeton will be critical to our success," Williams said. "They were two of our biggest playmakers last year."

Most of the Crimson's experience, however, lies in its defense. Returning in goal is two-time All-Ivy selection senior Jordan Dupuis. Last season Dupuis posted a 1.18 goals against average and .822 save percentage while recording five shutouts.

Williams, a two-time Second-Team All-Ivy selection, anchors a solid defensive unit in front of Dupuis, and junior Paul Cantagallo returns for another year as Harvard's stopper.

Lundquist, one of the league's best marking backs, and junior back Chris Rollins, a newcomer, round out a defense that should be stingy with its opponents this year.

"Our backs move the ball well, and they open the field for our midfielders," Keeton said. "We're going to be a good counterattacking team."

The Crimson's biggest question mark is scoring. McLaughlin's graduation leaves a void in Harvard's offense that must be filled quickly if the Crimson is to battle for an Ivy title in 1998.

Some of the load might be carried by juniors Chinezi Chijioke and Ryan Kelly. Chijioki is the Crimson's second leading returning scorer, and he looks to build on the productive second half of the season he had in 1997. Kelly moves up from his marking back position of last season.