The Big Red likes to sit in its offensive sets until a defender tires, and then it can exploit the opening for a score.

Fortunately for Harvard, Cornell is not very effective in extra-man situations, scoring only 29 percent of the time. This statistic may indicate that Cornell's patient offense doesn't have the time to convert scores in only a minute.

But the statistic may also indicate that Cornell struggles against zone defenses of the type that all teams use when they are man-down. So, the Crimson may look to switch to a zone or combination zone/man defense to take some of the strain off of its defenders if they start to tire.

The other thing that Harvard has to do is to ride the Cornell clear effectively. The Big Red converts 75 percent of its clearing chances, but if the Crimson can hold Cornell below that, it can limit how long the Big Red can hold the ball on offense.

When Harvard clears, it is in a bit of a bind. Although scoring off transition situations has been a strength for the Crimson this season--especially when the offense has been unable to get the set plays working--a quick score off of transition may prove a liability against the Big Red.

Since the defense will most likely be tired after a long Cornell possession, Harvard has got to hold the ball on offense and give the defense some rest.

That strategy depends on how effective the Crimson face-off unit is.

Cornell sophomore midfielder Addison Sollog has won 54 percent of his face-offs this season. Against Duke, Harvard won 50 percent of the face-offs.