Crimson Booters Defeat Wesleyan: Gray Is Injured

The Harvard varsity soccer team completed its pre-Ivy League competition today with a 3-1 victory over a stubborn team from Wesleyan.

But the Crimson's latest triumph could prove a costly one, as starting full-back Bob Gray suffered a head injury that will keep him out of action for at least a week.

Gray, a junior letterman from Dedham, Mass., collided with a Wesleyan attacker in pursuit of the ball in the fourth quarter. Running at full speed towards the sidelines. Gray fell backwards, striking his head against a bench, and went into convulsions before being taken to the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston.

Early this evening he was transferred to the Faulkner Hospital in Jamaica Plains. The latest medical word was that he was reacting normally to tests and would be kept in the hospital several days for observation.

Dampened Spirits

Gray's injury dampened the spirits of his teammates who were leading 3-0 at the time. Wesleyan, which had tied the powerful Yale squad earlier in the season, shut out high-scoring Pete Bogovich by double-teaming him. This, however, allowed the Crimson to penetrate their staunch defense early in the first quarter.

With less than 5 minutes gone, outside right Gerry Montero centered the ball to his inside Solomon Gomez. Gomez caught Wesleyan's goalie out of position and tipped the ball into the nets.

The rest of the first half was scoreless, as Harvard's offense failed for the second consecutive game to mount a consistent attack. Again, the Crimson found the defense waiting for them, as the half-backs delayed a little too long in getting the ball to the line.

Coach Bruce Munro's half-time lecture snapped the team's lethargy as the second half began. Captain Scott Robertson moved the ball along the left wing and passed it towards the goal through an opening in the Wesleyan defense. Racing in from his left inside position, Jaime Vargas headed the high pass past a startled Wesleyan goalie from about 10 yards out, at 2 minutes of the third quarter.

The offense continued to press the attack into the Wesleyan end of the field. Only a few minutes later, center forward Bogovich passed the ball through the defense towards the nets. Outrunning his defender, Robertson cut in towards the goal and connected with a short boot past the frozen Wesleyan net-minder.

Crimson goalie Rich Locksley shut out Wesleyan for 3 quarters before being replaced by sophomore Jim Sawhill, who blanked Wesleyan till late in the last quarter when Gray's injury disheartened his teammates.