Field Condition May Hurt Soccer Team's Play Today

The Business School soccer field awaits today's M.I.T. game in deathbed shape. Baked bone-dry and brick-hard by the summer sun, and finally drenched by last weekend's rains, the playing field has congealed during the cool nights into a sort of black meringue jello, which makes footing treacherous and accurate ball control a happy accident.

Questioned about the condition of the field, Coach Bruce Munro shook his head and murmured, "Look at it. Look at this mess."

With prospects for a winning season having increased with wins last week over Williams and Wesleyan, it seems a shame that the varsity squad must play on an unkempt, windswept, sloppy hardpan like the Business School field. Through lacking the tradition which shrouds college football, college soccer, played under decent conditions, could easily prove what a first-rate sport it is.

As blisters, bruises, and muscle pulls, caused in great part by the early-season hardness of the field, have begun to clear up, the team has of late indicated its winning potential. The starting forward line of Larry Ekpebu, Tom Bernheim, John Hedreen, Captain Jim Shue, and Ken McIntosh concentrated on shooting in the last two games.

New Offense Pays Off

The subtle change of emphasis from passing the ball to the goal, and then shooting, to driving the ball towards the cage in order to shoot has paid off. Wings Ekpebu and McIntosh have worked very effectively in keeping up a flurry of shots intended to wear down an opposing backfield.

The starting halfback line remains intact thus far without any major injuries. Marsh Schwarz, Tony Oberschall, and John Felstiner play close behind the forwards to give them support needed to keep the ball within shooting range.

A strategy which keeps halfbacks up close to the forward line does, however, place an additional burden on the two fullbacks. A fast breaking team may get the jump on halfbacks playing deeper than usual to bring a four or five man rush down on the fullbacks and goalie. A premium is thus placed on accurate passing and swift control of loose balls by forwards and halfbacks.

Fullbacks Cris Provensen and Lanny Keyes face the M.I.T. forwards without the regular reserve strength of Floyd Malloy, so more strain than ever rests on the outstanding combination. Sophomore goalie Tom Bagnoli again replaces injured regular Jim Perkins, who may be out of action for another week.