In 1998, Zotter ranked second behind Miller in scoring and chalked up five goals and two assists for the season. Talented sophomore Colleen Moore adds a nice complement to the efforts of freshmen Yenne and Totman, who both enjoyed successful games last weekend.

The offense may also be bolstered by the return of sophomore forward Erin Aeschliman, who took the 1998-99 academic year off. Aeschliman made the leap from the junior varsity program in 1997 in time to score both of the Crimson's goals in a 2-0 win over UMass in the first round of the NCAA tournament. She finished the campaign with four goals and one assist.

"This year, we're trying to create our own style and strategy of play," Larson said. "In the past, we've had a lot of superstars on the field who have directed our play, but this year, we'd really like to create [a style] of our own."

In addition to welcoming nine freshmen to the squad, Wheaton and his corps of upperclassmen are also working with two new assistant coaches, Stephanie Erickson and Jape Shattuck. Erickson adds experience as a player in a nationally recognized program at Northwestern, and Shattuck, who coached the Harvard men's team from 1982 to 1986, has gained national recognition as a knowledgeable and talented coach.

"They both add great enthusiasm and knowledge to this program," Wheaton said.

In its challenging non-conference schedule, the Crimson faces three opponents that were all ranked in the preseason Top 20. At the end of September, Harvard will play No. 7 Hartford, which defeated the Crimson twice last season. Harvard also faces off against nationally-ranked BYU and Connecticut in October.

In addition to that difficult non-conference schedule, Harvard's opponents in the extremely competitive Ivy League are determined to fight the Crimson for the league title. Harvard will play matches early in the season against traditionally tough opponents Columbia and Yale next week.

In spite of the challenges that loom ahead for the Crimson, it appears that Harvard will continue its tradition of soccer excellence this season. With a crop of fresh, talented first-years led by seasoned, skilled upperclassmen, Wheaton has molded a team that is a perfect combination of experience and enthusiasm.