A 1986 winner of the Hermann Trophy when he led Duke to the NCAA championship, and a long-time member of the U.S. National Team, Kerr has won at every level. While the Crimson is the winningest team in the history of the storied Ivy League, the challenge facing Kerr is to return the Harvard program to the national spotlight.

In 1999, the Crimson has the luxury of 18 returning letterwinners (losing six from last season) and eight returning starters on its pre-season roster. The three lost starters, backs Lee Williams and Andrew Lundquist and Harvard's all-time saves leader in goalkeeper Jordan Dupuis, are undoubtedly significant losses. However, with a talented nucleus of experienced returners, led by All-America candidate Armando Petruccelli at midfield, there are plenty of reasons for the Harvard faithful to be optimistic this fall.

In 1998, the Crimson started slow but then went 8-2-1 to finish the season with an 8-6-2 overall record. All six of Harvard's losses came by just one goal, and two were suffered in overtime matches. Coach Steve Locker's squad held its own with its finest competitiion, going 2-1-2 against nationally ranked opponents, and was unbeaten in its final five games of the season. The Crimson's 3-3-1 Ivy League record placed the squad fourth out of eight schools in the final standings.

Goalkeeper
(1 returner, 1 newcomer)
With Dupuis lost to graduation, there will be a new face in the Harvard goal this fall. The only returning goalkeeper is Mike Meagher, a 6-2 sophomore from Merrimack, NH, who saw just six minutes of action last season. His height and natural athletic ability make him a promising prospect, and he earned New England Rookie of the Year honors as a defenseman on the Harvard lacrosse team last spring. The only other goalkeeper on the Crimson roster is freshman Brandon
Renken, who comes to Cambridge from Cypress Creek High School in Houston, TX.

Defense
(4 returners, 3 newcomers)
There will be a golden opportunity for players to step up and emerge as leaders in the Harvard backfield in '99, as two of the team's defensive leaders for the past four years, Williams and Lundquist, have graduated. Junior captain Ryan Kelly is a natural leader, and has benefitted from the experience of playing in every Harvard contest the past two seasons. A fast and knowledgeable defender, Kelly has also proved effective when he moves up, as evidenced by his five goals (second-best on the squad) a year ago. Junior Matt Edwards returns after starting four games and appearing in 12 last season, and he looks to increase his contributions in the back along with sophomore Brian Schmitt (4 GP in '98). Freshmen Michael Cornish of Benoni, South Africa, Mike Lobach of North Andover, MA, and Joe Steffa of Holland, PA look to prove their abilities on the collegiate level and become immediate contributors.

Midfield
(8 returners, 2 newcomers)
Virtually the entire Crimson midfield from a year ago is back, and senior Armando Petruccelli anchors the unit. In jut 13 games last season, the First Team All-Ivy League honoree racked up seven goals and three assists to lead the team with 17 points. He will work alongside classmate Ryan Keeton, who has been a regular contributor since his freshman year but was forced to cut last season short with an ankle injury. Junior Wells Mangrum returned to the team last fall after a two-year hiatus and proved to be a valuable link between the Crimson defense and offense. A trio of sophomores--Nick Lenicheck, Michael Peller, and Joey Smolen--return from solid rookie performances in which each had a significant role on the team. Lenicheck started 14 of the Crimson's 16 games in '98, and finished as the team's assists leader with seven. Peller started 12 contests and played in all 16,while Smolen came off the bench in 11 games. Junior Richard Powell returns to the squad after a one-year absence, and sophomore Yoshio Kaneko, a high school All-American from Guilford, CT, will be working to increase his role after seeing time in five contests last season. The new faces in Crimson midfield are freshmen Marc Buan of Nepean, Ontario, and Colin Eyre of Cleveland Heights, OH. Eyre was a NSCAA All-American last fall while graduating as Cleveland Heights High's all-time leading scorer with 52 goals.

Forward
(4 returners, 0 newcomers)
Senior Will Hench returns as the experienced veterans on Harvard's front line of attack. Hench, a two-time selection to the All-Ivy League Second Team, comes off a four-goal, three-assist effort last fall that was good for 11 points (second on the club). Sophomores Jon Oslowski (15 GP, 6 points) and Marko Soldo (14 GP, 5 points) saw a considerable amount of time last year and look to build on their freshman seasons. Another sophomore, Alan Bengtzen, returns to the team after a two-year absence for a Mormon mission. As a freshman in 1996, Bengtzen was a crucial role player (14 GP, 3 goals) when the Crimson captured the Ivy League title and won a school-record 16 games.

Full schedule here.