Penn Proves Too Potent for Crimson; Stickmen Routed in Ivy Opener, 19-11

The Blue and Red of Pennsylvania combined an awesome attack and a fine defense last night to blast the Harvard lacrosse team, 17-5, in the first three quarters and then cruise to a 19-11 Ivy League triumph.

Crimson coach Bob Scalise said after the defeat, "We played well for a New England squad, but that's not enough when you're talking about playing a national power. We're just not there yet, and Penn is."

"They moved the ball better than any team we've seen this year," he continued. "They played good defense, and showed us a super offense. Penn has five or six really outstanding players--the kind we're trying to develop here."

The players who did the most damage against the Crimson last night were All-Ivy attackman Pete Hollis, the game's leading scorer with six points, and midder Mike Page and Dave Frey, who both finished with five points. Attackman Bill Tennis again spearheaded the Harvard offense, firing seven shots and finishing as the Crimson's leading scorer with a hat trick.

Harvard was in the contest until late in the second quarter. The Crimson stickmen broke on top less than a minute into the period when Kevin McCall scored his seventh goal of the season. Penn apparently was not impressed, reeling off five straight goals to take a commanding lead.

Harvard was two men down as the quarter ended but Bill MacKenzie scored on a fast break to cut the lead to 5-2. Early in the second quarter, Bobby Mellen scored off Steve Martin's 13th assist of the season to bring the Crimson even closer, but that was the end of the suspense.

Penn reeled off 11 of the next 12 goals and then pulled their goalie late in the third quarter, leading 16-4. Harvard tallied six times in the last frame, but the outcome was already settled clearly in Penn's favor.