Other nominees include Syracuse attackman Mike Springer, the fifth leading scorer in the nation last year for the national champion Orangmen. Springer also netted four goals in his opener, a 12-7 win over Virginia.

Buttles was also named a Face-Off Magazine Preseason Second-Team All-American along with Primm, who received a Preseason Honorable Mention.

For the Friars, it looks as though it might be a long season. Still searching for reliability between the pipes, Providence has now been outscored 22-12 and outshot 75-44 in its first two games.

The Ivy League looks tough again this year, with four teams named to the Preseason Top 25. Perennial Ivy champ Princeton is ranked No. 2, with Brown following at No. 15 and Penn falling three spots below Harvard at No. 23.

If Saturday was any indicator, however, it seems as though the Crimson is poised to be more consistent this season.

On clears, which has always become a source of problems when Harvard runs into a losing streak, the Crimson converted 16 of 19 attempts. Harvard was also dominant on the face-off, winning 9 to the Friar's 5.

The Crimson travels to Fairfield on Thursday at 2 p.m., and then returns home to Cambridge on March 17 for its annual laugher against Boston College.