M. Lax opens Ivy play with Crimson

The Quakers will need to control the ball if they hope to challenge Harvard The arrival of spring is often said to represent a fresh start in which anything is possible. Although significantly less poetic, spring is also accompanied by the beginning of the Ivy League lacrosse season. For the Penn men's lacrosse team that league opener will take place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Franklin Field. The Quakers (2-3) will entertain Harvard (1-0), the No. 19 team in the most recent national coaches' poll. In the corresponding contest last year, the Crimson routed Penn by a 21-5 count. Several members of Harvard's potent attack return this year, including second-team all-Ivy selection Mike Eckert and Mike Ferucci. If the Quakers are going to keep the score manageable, they will have to cure their ball-possession ills. Penn's success in winning face-offs could be an important influence in the possession story. "We're going to have to come together as a team and take care of the ball," Penn defender and tri-captain Kevin O'Brien said. "If you control the ball, you win the game." Perhaps the Quakers' best response to the offensive pressure of the Crimson will be to apply pressure of their own. With attackman John Ward among the national leaders in goals per game with 3.4, and a number of other players off to good starts, Penn should be able to find the back of the net against Harvard's honorable mention all-Ivy goalie Rob Lyng. "They're definitely a team we can score goals on," said Penn coach Terry Corcoran, who also emphasized that "we have to show more respect for the ball." Naturally, the midfielders -- who are the three players that are allowed to play both offense and defense -- are sure to be a key factor in the contest. Penn's middies are led by tri-captain Vern Briggs. The fifth-year senior did not play a minute in the 1995 campaign as a result of a knee injury. He has come back in style, however, scoring 11 points in five games. Briggs' largest contributions are not in the numbers, though. "I think if you watch me play, I'm not a very talented player, but the thing I bring to the team is a love of the game," said Briggs, who dismisses the notion that the Harvard game is anything special. "In college lacrosse, it comes down to what 10 guys want the game more, especially with a young team like ours -- every game is a test." The game will contrast a youthful Quakers team with the more veteran Crimson. Penn's roster includes 17 freshmen and although they are inexperienced, they have no memories of Penn's recent struggles in arguably the most competitive conference in the country. Five of the seven Ancient Eight schools are presently in the top 20. Penn was winless in the league last season and won just once the year before. "This is a big game for us," O'Brien said. "We want to turn things around."