M. Booters, UConn Draw Blanks, 0-0

Despite flinging 25 shots toward net yesterday, the Harvard men's soccer team failed to score against a tough University of Connecticut squad. But the Huskies were equally fruitless in their attempts to put the ball past Harvard goalie Stephen Hall, as the teams emerged after 110 minutes of battle yesterday in a 0-0 tie at Storrs, Conn.

Hall recorded six saves en route to his second shutout of the year, and lowered his goals-against average to .66.

Despite his fine play, Hall will not be in the net Saturday when the Crimson takes on Brandeis. Instead, fellow junior Chad Reilly--who last year led the Crimson to an NCAA Final Four appearance--will be in his place.

"I'm happy with Stephen Hall." Harvard Coach Mike Getman said, "but I'm also confident in Chad's abilities."

Yesterday's contest market the return of Derek Mills, last year's scoring leader, who missed the Crimson's first two games of the season with a knee injury. Mills saw action in the overtime periods of yesterday's game.

The Crimson (2-0-1 overall, 1-0 Ivy League) suffered the first blemish on its record, and was outplayed by the Huskies in one department. Harvard managed but four corner kicks to UConn's seven.

But Getman refused to look at the tie negatively.

"It was an all right result," Getman said. "Not what we hoped for, but not what could have been playing away at Connecticut."

A perennial tough team, the Huskies garnered several votes in the Soccer Association's preseason poll.

"Statistics don't mean a thing," Getman commented. "It was pretty even and both teams had plenty of chances to win."

Harvard's closest shot on goal came about 25 minutes into the game, when senior Nick Hotchkin fired a bullet off the crossbar. But the Crimson never got as close again, as Huskie goalie Tom Foley recorded 10 saves.

Connecticut nearly put the Crimson away with a pair of near-misses in overtime, but excellent goaltending by Hall preserved the tie.

The junior netminder has earned the starting position in Harvard's opening three games, but Saturday's home contest with Brandeis will find Chad Reilly in goal. Last year, Reilly took over for a illness-hampered Hall and led the Crimson to national glory.

Overtimes and the game's fast pace afforded all the Crimson players save Reilly, who has not seen a minute of playing time this year, an opportunity to play. Mills, the Scottish Sensation who last year pounded in 14 goals, gave it his best shot in the 2 OTs but could not put the Crimson on the scoreboard.

"It was a little bit uncharacteristic," said Getman of the late-game substituting. "But it's nice to know we can count on everybody."

Getman plans to work on poise and consistency before Saturday's home opener against Brandeis 11 a.m. at Ohiri Field.

"We give it away too quickly," he said. "We tend to look for the killer pass. We're going to work harder with possession."

1987 Men's Soccer Schedule Home Games at Ohiri Field

SEPTEMBER Sat. 26 BRANDEIS  11:00 a.m.

OCTOBER Sat. 3 HARTWICK  11:00 a.m. Tue. 6 at B.C.  7:30 p.m. Sat.10 at Cornell  7:30 p.m.