Laxmen Hit the Post, Cruise to 5-3 Victory

It was homecoming of sorts.

Cold Spring Harbor natives Dave Kramer and Chris Bentley returned to Long Island Saturday and combined to score three goals to lead the Harvard men's lacrosse team over C.W. Post, 5-3, in the inaugural game of the season.

The game was dominated by defense and the superb play of senior goalie Mike Bergmann. The netminder recorded 14 saves, several of which were spectacular.

Bergmann, a tri-captain, was protected by the close defensive play of seniors and fellow Tri-Captains Bill Pennoyer and Rich van den Broek and senior Brian McGinley, as well as the defensive midfield trio of Andy Barnard, John Gates, and Bentley.

Sophomore midfielder Perry Dodge started the scoring with an unassisted goal midway through the opening quarter. Two minutes later, Kramer--a sophomore attackman--tallied off an assist from junior attackman Brad Raymond. Post rebounded with a goal soon after.

The defenses then took control of the game, as neither squad was able to score until Kramer converted a Pennoyer assist about five minutes before halftime. Again, Post scored to cut the Harvard lead to 3-2 at the intermission.

After another strong defensive showing in the third quarter in which neither team could score, the Crimson headed into the final period with a one goal advantage. Freshman Mickey Cavouti, a converted midfielder, fed junior attackman Steve Lux two minutes into the quarter to give the Crimson a 4-2 edge. Another Post goal returned the margin to one. Bentley, a sophomore defenseman, then scored the Crimson's final goal, all the defense would need to preserve the victory.

"I was psyched," Bentley said. "Brian McGinley was heading downfield. When they shut the attackmen off, he passed it to me across the field. I dodged the defenseman and put it in."

Post again responded to Harvard's score with 10:49 elapsed. It then knocked on the door several times, only to be stuffed by a stingy defense.

"I was getting nervous at the end," Bentley said. "They were putting a lot of pressure on us, but the defense held together. It was the best game I've ever seen Mike Bergmann play."

The Crimson was victorious despite being outshot, 38-27. In addition, Post picked up 51 groundballs, eight more than Harvard.

Cornell travels to Cambridge Saturday to kick off the Ivy League season.