Aquadudes Dunk MIT Behind Richards, 11-8

The search for the 1988 Harvard men's water polo leader has been as muddled as the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination was earlier this year.

But, the Democrats' leader emerged early in the campaign season soon after Super Tuesday in the form of Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis and, likewise, the Crimson has also found its standard-bearer early in its season.

King Peter

Freshman Peter Richards drilled five goals home to lead Harvard (2-2) to an 11-8 victory over the MIT Engineers in front of a capacity crowd of 200 fans up the river in MIT.

Richards propelled the Crimson to a 4-3 lead at the close of the first quarter with two quick goals. Junior Captain Eric Bentley and junior Nick Branca also tallied in the opening period to stake Harvard to a lead it never lost.

By halftime, the Crimson had upped its margin to 7-4. Harvard outscored the Engineers 2-1 in the third period to enter the final quarter up by four goals.

The Crimson. behind Richards and junior goalie Greg Beber, cruised to the final margin of victory with little threat from MIT.

Richards' five goals included the conversion of a penalty shot in the first quarter and a power-play goal later in the contest.

Freshman Steven Kan, playing in his first collegiate water polo match, also added two goals for the Crimson.

Kan was not able to compete in the Crimson's first three games this year at the Eastern League Tournament in Annapolis, Md., last weekend because he missed his physical due to a required Quantitative Reasoning Test.

Yukio Lippitt and freshman Todd Forman added the other two Harvard goals in the game.

The Best Defense Is An Offense

Beber played a remarkable game in goal, turning away eight Engineer shots and also making four steals.

The experienced Crimson goalie was also credited with not just one, but two assists--a rariety for a goalkeeper in water polo.