Favored Soccer Varsity Faces Dartmouth Today

The Crimson soccer team, disorganized and beaten Tuesday by a less skillful M.I.T., will seek its third win after three straight ties, meeting Dartmouth on the Business School Field today at 2 p.m.

The Indians have taken the short end of a lumpy score three times this year, coming no closer to victory than a draw with Penn. Yet the varsity will have to work its tight, short-passing attack on what will probably be a rather sticky field, and without the support of fullback Chris Provensen, who injured his back at the beginning of the week and is expected to be inactive this afternoon.

Mud makes it rough on the kind of passing on which the Crimson relies, and its attack, involving hard-pressing half-backs, puts great pressure on its own defending fullbacks.

In addition, Randy Malin, all-Ivy goalie last year, is expected to be in the nets for Dartmouth. Malin is the chief asset of what is reportedly a tight Indian defense. Dartmouth has held opposition scoring down, losing to Brown 3 to 1, Princeton 5 to 1, and Connecticut 3 to 2.

Dartmouth Captain Out

On the other hand, Indian captain Tony Gittes is not expected to start at his regular fullback position, a knee injury reportedly intervening. Thus, Jack Zipes and Mitch Engle, with Malin, will probably comprise Dartmouth's last line of defense.

Hanover sources describe the Dartmouth offense as non-aggressive and inaccurate in its passing, yet such ineptness is without great precedent in Dartmouth soccer and it is difficult to imagine Indians-come-to-Boston as non-aggressive.

Defensively, the Crimson will probably again start Lanny Keyes and Charlie Steele at the fullback spots and Tom Bagnoli in the goal. Floyd Molloy may see limited action at fullback.

The varsity's forward line and half-back spots should be filled by the regular members, giving the Crimson attack a rare opportunity to function at relatively full strength.