“Three of the four goals we’ve given up have been off of set pieces,” Junot said. “We’ve asked Austin to continue improving his organizing of the defense, limiting the number of free kicks we give up, and to focus on his positioning and his individual efforts when other teams get free kick opportunities.”

In net for the Lobos will be sophomore Justin Holmes, who sports just a .455 save percentage on the year.

The Crimson attack is led by sophomore forward Brian Rogers, who has a team-leading two goals on the season. All of Harvard’s scoring on the season, in fact, has come from underclassmen. Sophomores Scott Prozeller and Zack Wolfenzon and freshman Ross Friedman have all scored one goal for the Crimson thus far.

In terms of shot differential, both Santa Barbara (56-39) and New Mexico (65-25) have led opponents by a wide margin this season. Harvard, in contrast, has been outshot 47-38 by its opponents.

Coming off a tie against the Huskies in which it was outshot 25-6, and facing a pair of teams which like to attack, the Crimson defense will need to be at the top of its game.

“If you’re allowing shots, it’s not an issue; it only becomes an issue when you’re allowing good scoring chances,” Millock said. “I think we’ve done a good job limiting opponents chances [this season].”

Despite the fact that neither UC Santa Barbara nor New Mexico is nationally ranked (both received two points in the most recent NSCAA poll), Harvard knows it can’t take either squad lightly. Like the Crimson, both schools reached the NCAA Tournament in 2009, with the Gauchos losing in the Sweet 16 and the Lobos falling in the opening round.

“[Underestimation] shouldn’t be an issue,” Millock said. “I think we all understand that any team can beat any other team on any given day. We’re just trying to focus and concentrate on ourselves.”

—Staff writer Scott A. Sherman can be reached at ssherman13@college.harvard.edu.