Tradition is simple. Schedule a cream puff for your homecoming and everyone goes home happy.

Either Yale (4-1) has forgotten this or they believe the Harvard men's soccer team is a push over. This Saturday in New Haven at 7:00 PM the Crimson (1-2-1, 1-0 Ivy) look to provide tears in the post-game beverages of the Bulldog faithful.

Harvard comes into the soccer version of The Game fresh from a hard fought tie with the Boston University Terriers last Tuesday.

Despite trailing at the half, the Crimson came back to tie the battle early in the second period after a clutch goal by senior midfielder Armando Petruccelli.

"We always have a tough one against BU, and the last one was no exception," sophomore forward Jonathan Oslowski said. "Everyone played hard and it turned out to be a close one."

In spite of the tie, the Crimson still boast a perfect 1-0 record in Ivy League play, thanks to a 2-1 upset over Columbia last Saturday.

That win marked the first time that a Harvard team has opened league play with a victory since 1995, and was the first victory for new head coach John Kerr.

"We're working very well as a team right now," said Petruccelli, who is an All-American hopeful. "We are playing hard and it shows."

The Bulldogs are currently ranked No. 8, a spot that may change in light of a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of UConn on Wednesday.

The Elis were out shot 21-5 by the No. 19 Huskies in the upset rout, a stark contrast from their 2-0 domination of St. Francis last Friday.

"There's no doubt they'll be gunning for us," Oslowski said. "After that loss they are going to be really fired up."

The Bulldogs will be led on the field by senior forward Jac Gould, who is now their all time leader in goals and points scored. This year he has already earned Ivy League Player of the Week honors with three goals and three assists for a total of nine points last week.

"They will be very aggressive," said Petruccelli when asked what could be expected from Yale. "Having Gould back makes them better, but we can handle it."

But he dismissed the idea that he might receive any extra attention from the Bulldog defense.

"We play well together," Petruccelli said. "They can't afford to do anything special to me. My teammates will pick up the slack and make them pay."