Aquamen Sweep Tourney

The Harvard water polo team band-wagon continued to roll along this past weekend, racking up three straight wins without a loss at the Yale Invitational Tournament in New Haven Saturday.

Lackluster play typified the team's performance, but then, fireworks were not needed in contests against Yale, Queens AAU and Columbia--three less-than-formidable opponents.

Claustrophobia

The Crimson opened against a fired-up Yale squad seeking to avenge an 18-6 defeat to Harvard two weeks ago. Yale's Kiputh Pool, only one-third the size of Blodgett, gave a distinct edge to the home team, but the Crimson aquamen prevailed nonetheless, 10-7.

Harvard next squared off against the Queens (N.Y.) AAU Club, a group of former collegiate water polo players. A very physical team in a normally physical sport, the New Yorkers demonstrated a keen knowledge of the game, but could not match the Crimson aquamen's swimming ability, succumbing, 15-12.

One More Time

Columbia's squad performed less competitively, dropping a 15-9 decision to complement the 15-5 drubbing the Lions received from the Crimson two weeks ago. In Saturday's game, Harvard back-up goalies Mehmet Oz and Brian Graham saw action instead of co-captain Rich Reid, and despite an inconsistent defense, the aquamen managed to stifle the Lions' attack when it counted most.

The three victories Saturday upped the water polo team's season record to 13-2, including 11 of the last 12 games. The squad is now ranked number three in the East, behind Loyola of Chicago and Ivy League rival Brown.

Ho-Hum

"Overall, the team didn't play too well this weekend, partially because we had already beaten two of the teams we played and so we weren't too psyched for the rematches," co-captain Houston Hall said yesterday.

"We're improving with every practice and so we should be able to challenge Brown for the Ivy League championship next weekend in Providence," he added. The Bruins narrowly defeated the aquamen last week, 11-7.

Before the Crimson gets another shot at Brown, however, it will face Williams, the number one team in Division II, at Blodgett Friday.

THE NOTE BOOK: The water polo team received a warm welcome upon its return to Cambridge Saturday night at 10:30. Senior Tim Maximoff, unfamiliar with Cambridge roads, created a minor traffic jam by accidentally driving the team van up Dunster Street--a one-way street--the wrong way.