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

Senior 2M Tom Chalberg; Sophomore D Jeremy Katz; Senior D Chris Tilghman; Senior 2M Mike Zimmerman

KEY LOSSES

G Ed Chen

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"I don't see how we could not do well." --Captain Mike Zimmerman

OUTLOOK

First-year coach Jim Floerchinger should breathe new life into a program that was headed in the wrong direction. With a healthy Zimmerman and a strong crop of young players, this team should challenge for a spot at Easterns. FIELD HOCKEY

LAST SEASON

7-10, 3-4 Ivy

COACH

Sue Caples, 11th year

CAPTAINS

Judy Collins; Tara LaSovage

KEY RETURNERS

Senior M Judy Collins; Junior G Anya Cowen

KEY LOSSES

None

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"Last year was a disappointment, but we learned a lot."   --Co captain Tara LaSovage

OUTLOOK

Harvard did not expect to go 7-10 last season, and anything short of challenging for an Ivy title and a postseason spot in 1998 would disappoint this veteran team, which graduated only two starters. returns.

The Crimson's 7-10 field hockey record of ayear ago reflects the disappointment that was 1997but belies a highly competitive squad that returnsnine of 11 starters.

Among the returning players is two-timefirst-team All-Ivy selection and co-captain JudyCollins and one of the league's best keepers injunior Anya Cowan.

Harvard hopes to regain its form of two yearsago, in which it surprised some with an 11-8record and a bid in the post-season ECACTournament. Collins and Co-captain Tara LaSovageshould provide leadership in the midfield, andjunior Katie Schoolwerth will anchor the defenseat sweeper.

"Last year was a disappointment, but we learneda lot," said Tara LaSovage, who earned second-teamAll-Ivy accolades last season. "We have a good mixof veterans and young players."

This team's wild card may be its 12 freshmenand sophomores, who could potentially tip thebalance in the Ivies.

"The Ivy League can go to anybody," LaSovagesaid. "We're going to work on our approach andcontrolling the things we can control."

Cross-Country

If the performance of Harvard's runners at lastweekend's Fordham Invitational is any indication,it can expect to improve on its relativelydisappointing 1997 campaign.

On Saturday at Van Cortland Park in the Bronx,N.Y., the Harvard men finished second and thewomen fourth.

Both teams were paced by their captains, aswomen's captain Margaret Schotte placed thirdoverall and men's co-captain Scott Muoio wasHarvard's top male finisher.

It is a pattern that continues from last year,in which the two runners led Harvard at virtuallyevery meet. The Crimson will look to improve uponnear last-place finishes at the season-endingHeptagonal Championships.CROSS-COUNTRY

LAST SEASON

Men: 8th/9 at Heptagonals

Women: 7th/9 at Heptagonals

COACH

Frank Haggerty '68, 17th season

CAPTAINS

Scott Muoio; Margaret Schotte

KEY RETURNERS

Senior Scott Muoio; Senior Margaret Schotte

KEY LOSSES

Heather Shroud

OUTLOOK

Cross-country running is a sport that rarelybrings big surprises, but Harvard is counting onbeing the exception. The Crimson is not withouttalented runners, and if the conditions are right,who knows?

M. WATER POLO SCHEDULE(HOME GAMES IN CAPS)

DATE  OPPONENT9/12  B.C., L 13-7 Fordham, L 19-8 UMASS, L 1829/13  Brown, L 18-109/17  BROWN9/19-20  New York Challenge (Teams TBA)9/22  MIT9/27  MIT (at Brown); Queens (at Brown)10/9  Lehman College10/10  lona; USMMA St. Francis (all at St.Francis)10/15  at MIT10/17-18  at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (LA)10/24-25  Eastern Qualifiers (at Navy)10/31  NORTHERN DIV.11/1  CHAMPIONSHIPS11/14-15  Easterns (at Brown)

FIELD HOCKEY SCHEDULE(HOME GAMES IN CAPS)

DATE  OPPONENT9/12  URI, L 2-19/13  VERMONT, W 5-09/16  MASSACHUSETTS9/29  Columbia9/23  CONNECTICUT9/26  YALE9/30  BOSTON U.10/3  Penn10/10  CORNELL10/13  New Hampshire10/16  Providence10/18  STANFORD10/21  Boston College10/24  Princeton10/28  NORTHEASTERN10/31  DARTMOUTH11/7  BROWN

CROSS-COUNTRY SCHEDULE(HOME MEETS IN CAPS)

DATE  MEET9/12  Fordham Invit.9/18  Brown/N.U. (at Bryant College)9/26  Iona Invitational10/9  YALE (m.)10/10  Princeton/Yale (w.) (at Princeton)10/16  New England Championships10/30  Heptagonal Championships

Melissa K. CrockerCrimsonFIELD DREAMS: The Harvard fieldhockey team has the talent to contend for an Ivytitle. Does it have the intangibles?