Late Goal Gives M. Boosters Upset Victory

Harvard men's soccer coach Stephen Locker must have felt the pressure entering his first home game at Ohiri field against Connecticut.

He wanted to show the Crimson's fans that this year's team was for real, that last weekend's overtime win against highly-ranked Columbia was no fluke. But he was missing Craig "Pepper" Brill and Tanner Sly, his two best defenders, and facing a coaching legend in the University of Connecticut's Joe Morrone. Morrone, the cagey godfather of Storrs, Conn., was entering his 500th game and had compiled an amazing 309-143-47 record. He hasn't had a losing season in 15 years.

Locker must have felt more pressure than a warm Dr. pepper or Harrison Ford in the trash compactor of the Death Star. But he was guardedly optimistic, saying only, "We'll see how it goes."

But as fate would have it, the pressure was all on Connecticut as the Crimson rode a gritty team effort to come from behind and score with 36 seconds left in the game to win, 2-1.

He Shoots, He Scores!

With the score tied and time running out, Captain Jason Luzak headed the ball to sophomore forward Derek Swaim, who was charging in from the left side.

Swaim headed it into the upper right-hand corner of the net.

"My object was not to shoot on net," Luzak said, "but to tip it to anybody who might be running on the other side. Derek happened to be there."

After the game, Swaim deferred credit for the game-winning goal.

"It was just easy for me to put it home," he said. "Luzak did all the work. He played a heck of a game."

Luzak also assisted on the first Harvard score. Down 1-0 (at 50:38) he crossed the ball to freshman standout Chris, who headed it in from the left side. Score tied 1-1.

Down at Halftime

The men's soccer team pressed, harried, and kept the ball in the Huskies' end for most of the game, taking 16 shots on goal. Still, Harvard was actually down, 1-0, going into halftime.

While the Crimson had kept up constant pressure in the Huskies' end, but had failed to convert on a number of opportunites, including several corner and indirect kicks.

"In the first half, we had more pressure, but couldn't seem to find the goal," Wojcik said. "But that's the was soccer is."

Instead, Connecticut capitalized on a Harvard miscue. At 39:57, senior goaltender Scott Salisbury softly rolled the ball out to junior backfielder Ping Li. A hustling Huskie stole the outlet, and passed to teammate Dan Sapienze who tallied.

(Both Li and Salisbury would more than atone for their miscommunication through tenacious play and a key save by Salisbury with a minute left.)

No Cracks Under Pressure

Rather than breaking, Harvard thrived on pressure in this game. The Crimson Actively sought it and gave Connecticut more than the Huskies could handle.

"I think it's a credit to our coach," Luzak said. "Even with two of our defensemen out, I thought our coach was able to bring our team together and everyone played well.

"The coach in playing a high-pressure defense. It's a high-pressure attack. We're pressing the ball in their end, trying to win the ball on their third of the field."

The stratagem worked beautifully against Connecticut. And how does Coach Locker feel?

"It feels good, unbelievable. We've still got a lot of growth to show, but they're finding a way to win which is something I don't think they believed they could do in the past. That is very encouraging and positive."

HARVARD, 2-1 at Ohiri Field Connecticut  1  0  --1 Harvard  0  2  --2

G: Connecticut--Sapienze; Harvard--Wojick, Swaim. A: Connecticut--Elliven; Harvard--Luzak (2). S:Connecticut--Saeth (2); Harvard--Salisbury (4).