'Spare Tires' No Problem; Michelin Wins Tourney

A team billing itself as "Michelin" because of the alleged spare tires around its waists, won yesterday's Harvard men's soccer team-sponsored indoor soccer tournament at Briggs Athletic Center.

Michelin defeated the Rangers team, which included men's varsity Head Coach Jape Shattuck, 4-2.

In the second-ever such tournament at Harvard, Michelin won a preliminary afternoon tourney and the Rangers a similar morning event to advance to the nighttime championship.

There, the Michelin squad-despite its extra spare weight (or tires, as the squad appropriately termed it)-overcame a 2-1 halftime deficit to take the title.

A total of 10 teams, representing groups of students from the Law School, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, as well as undergraduates from the College, participated in the all-day extravaganza.

The tournament began at 8:30a.m., when the eventual runner-up Rangers defeated the G-entry team whose membership lead like part of the varsity men's team, by a score of 5-0.

The Rangers went on to win the morning tournament, and Fleshmen, a team composed mainly of-you guessed it, freshmen-took second-place honors.

The afternoon tournament witnessed the Michelin squad playing skillfully enough to win that tourney and thereby earn a trip to the nighttime finals. Quad, another team which included many members of the varsity and junior varsity squads, finished second in the afternoon event.

The nighttime finals was an exciting contest between two skillful, evenly matched teams; Marty Sabelli opened the scoring for the Rangers 10 minutes into the first half when he slipped a shot under Michelin keeper Phil Coogan.

Five minutes after that, John Catliff, who led the varsity squad in scoring last fall, tied things from eight yards out with a powerful volley past a surprised Ranger 'keeper Brett O'Brien.

Shortly before halftime the Rangers regained the lead after Sabelli learned up with Shattuck and right back Leo Lanzillo to make it 2-1. Lanzillo started the play with a long pass to a flying Shattuck, who fired a missile across the goalmouth. Sabelli only had to knock the projectile slightly with his shin into the net.

But Ned White quickly tied it up again for Michelin after the second half began. After that it was all Michelin as Catliff put in two goals to ensure the victory.

There will be another indoor tournament April 15, most likely in the Indoor Track and Tennis Center.