When the ball finally dropped on Saturday afternoon against MIT, the Harvard men's water polo team knew for sure that the nightmare of last season was over.

A team that entered the 1997 season with enormous potential, bolstered by unprecedented depth and led by the first All-American in the program's history-then-junior two-meter man Mike Zimmerman--ended it with a 10-18 record and Zimmerman having missed the bulk of the season with sprained ligaments in his right thumb.

This year, with a new coach and one of the deepest teams in Harvard history, the Crimson will look to right the wrongs of a year ago. Coach Jim Floerchinger has the team practicing with a cohesiveness that was missing under former coach Don Benson '88, who resigned after last season's disappointment.

"We have a new coach who's brought a lot of energy and knowledge to the team," said Zimmerman, the team captain. "I don't see how we could not do well."

The Crimson's roster is 18-strong, much closer to the large squads of traditional water polo powers, and it includes a healthy mix of veterans and younger players. Zimmerman is fully recovered from his hand woes and ready to attempt a return to the form that placed him on the United States National "B" Team two summers ago

The team should also receive strong contributions from seniors Tom Chalberg and Chris Tilghman, sophomore Jeremy Katz, as well as a talented but as-yet-untested six-member freshman class.

FIELD HOCKEY

In many ways the Harvard field hockey team mirrors its water polo counterpart. In both cases a talented team endured a disheartening season, but in both cases a deep and more knowledgeable team MEN'S WATER POLO

LAST SEASON

10-18, 3-1 EWPA

COACH

Jim Floerchinger, first year

CAPTAIN

Mike Zimmerman

KEY RETURNERS