... But Laxmen Turn Scarlet of Rutgers

What shaped up as a big step in the Harvard men's lacrosse team's late-season surge turned instead on Saturday into its worst defeat since the season opener.

Three wins in its previous four games--including victories over tough squads like UNH and UMass--gave the Crimson hopes of turning things around after an early 1-5 stretch, and perhaps actually finishing with a winning record.

Instead, after an 11-4 drubbing at Rutgers (the worst margin for the Crimson since its debut versus the top team in the country, Johns Hopkins). Harvard stands at 4-7, needing wins in all its remaining contests just to reach 500.

Even more disappointing for the Crimson was their meager offensive output, not only because it was the lowest since the opener, but because it represented its 11th straight failure to score in double digits. Two of Harvard's goals came in the final 10 minutes, after the Scarlet Knights had built a 10-2 lead and switched goalies. Crimson turnovers in the Rutgers end failed many scoring opportunities.

But while the Crimson did itself in by its anemic attack, the Rutgers offense did its share, giving the Harvard defense constant headaches with its fast breaks. The entire Scarlet Knight offense would head upfield the moment its goalie had the ball, creating many six-on-four chances, which produced nearly half the Rutgers fouls. Harvard goalie Tim Pendergast was understandably busy throughout the game, making 20 saves before Crimson Coach Bob Scalise gave back-up Mark Vita some playing time in the fourth quarter.

Doing perhaps the most damage was Rutgers midfielder Al Ray. Besides notching two goals and two assists, he dominated on faceoffs and ground balls.

At first it seemed that Harvard freshman Chris Pujols might fill the scoring role for the visitors; his goal 13:49 off a pass from Joe Sollee kept Harvard within one at the end of the first quarter. But the Scarlet Knights pulled away with three unanswered goals in the second period.

Pujols scored again 7:30 into the second half, but that was while Rutgers was erupting for five third-quarter goals to put the game out of reach. Tom Lochtefeld and Tim McCaffrey rounded out the Crimson scoring stats in the fourth quarter.

THE NOTEBOOK: Harvard travels to C. W. Post (in New York) Wednesday afternoon.