Crimson Booters Outgun Hapless Bulldogs, 4-0

The script had been the same for six years. Since Hubert Vogelsinger came to New Haven from his Vienna home to coach soccer, the Harvard-Yale, games have unfolded in a predictable fashion, Yale relying on a solid right defense and an offense which hoped for a lucky break or a Crimson defensive error, while Harvard constantly carried the play with penetrating drives that usually netted two or three goals but never enough to blow the Elis off the field and back to Naples Pizza House.

It had to change, a rewrite was inevitable. Unfortunately, for Vogelsinger and Yale their new role was not exactly what they had in mind. The outcome was never in doubt. The Crimson simply outclassed, outmanned, and outgunned a hapless Eli 11 enroute to a 4-0 whitewash Wednesday on the Business School Field.

Led by senior Chris Papagianis's three goals, Harvard dominated Yale in every aspect of play, outshooting the Elis 29 to 13 and disrupting any organized drive the Blue could muster.

Harvard-goalie Steve Kidder blocked nine Eli shots while Yale's Ken Pasternak and Ric Maronpot were forced to stop 14 Crimson attempts. Kidder and his impregnable defense of Rick Scott, Brian Fearnett, Ric LaCivita, and Henry Sideropoulos played light and aggressive soccer but not errorless ball. The Elis were allowed a handful of open shots but Kidder and the Yales' own ability took turns at foiling their bids to score.

At midfield, Bahman Mossavar-Rahmani continued his excellent play along with Emmanuel Ekama, who is now playing impressively at full spend after a heel injury handicapped him earlier this season. The duo stole numerous passes, set up teammates, breaks with good leading passes, and generally harassed the Elis into making mistakes.

Papagianis closed out a brilliant Ivy season as the three goals against Yale shot his record shattering scoring total from 18 to 21. The former record of 13 was not last year by Harvard junior Felix Adedeji, Papagianis netted the first goal for the Crimson on an assist by Bent Hinze at 4:21.

Hinze notched the second goal with a booking corner kick precisely placed his the top right of the goal. Pasternak was sprawled in front of the not as the boil whipped into the twice.

Papa combined with a Mossavar set-up for the third goal at 37:26 and headed a rebound into the left corner for an unassisted tally and the only score of the second half. The "hat trick" producing play started on a pass from Demetrio Mena which Papagianis headed toward the goal; the ball hit the bar and bounced back to the shooter who confidently put it away.

Harvard finished the regular season with an 8-1-1 record and the Elis with a 55-1 mark.