The extra time to relax will be especially important given that the squad will have to contend with one of Ivy League’s premier attackers in Dartmouth senior Ari Sussman, a first team All-Ivy selection two years ago.

Sussman paces his squad with 19 points on 10 goals and nine assists. Junior attack Josh Etzion is second with 10 goals and nine assists.

“A lot of the things they do go through him,” Tillman said. “He’s a guy that we’ll certainly have to be well aware of where he is, what he’s doing. He certainly has the ability to make other players around him better, and that’s a compliment to him. So he’s a guy we’ll have to definitely keep an eye on.”

But the Crimson should be well-prepared for Sussman and the Big Green attack. It has excellent defensemen, headlined by captain Billy Geist, an Inside Lacrosse preseason All-America honorable mention selection. Sophomores Paul Pate and Dan DiMaria are also solid.

An added benefit is Harvard’s familiarity with Dartmouth’s offense, which the Crimson has been anticipating in the week of practice.

“They will kind of show you ‘This is what we’re going to run, can you stop it?’” Tillman said. “And you basically have to line up and guard, this is how we’re going to defend it and hopefully we defend it well…they’re not trying to trick you.”

Nor should there be too many tricks this weekend. It’s a game between two talented squads with winning records seeking to bounce back after tough losses and make a dent in the Ivy League.

But with a national ranking, added motivation, and a multitude of talent at both ends, Harvard has too much going for it to be stopped by the Big Green.

—Staff writer Christina C. McClintock can be reached at ccmcclin@fas.harvard.edu.