Harvard VarsityVarsity Club NEWS & VIEWS of Harvard Sports

Volume 49 Issue No. 5 www.varsityclub.harvard.edu November 27, 2006 Senior Gridders: A Class to Remember 31-9 best in Ivy League over last four years by Chuck Sullivan Director of Athletic Communications

Cli� on Dawson’s last carry was unlike any other in his storied career. In each of his previous 957 rushing a� empts since his 2003 debut with the Crimson, the goal had been to gain as much yardage as possible in as effi cient a manner as possible. This one was diff erent though. It was Harvard’s last series of its last game in Dawson’s last series in a Crimson uniform. The game’s outcome was but a formality — Yale had already done its part to put an end to the Crimson’s fi ve-game series winning streak —and each school had substituted liberally to give their backups the opportunity to play in front of a sellout crowd. But as Harvard took over on downs with 1:42 le� in the fourth quarter, head coach Tim Murphy went to his senior tail- back and put him in for one more play. It was then that Dawson realized that his career—at least the collegiate portion of it — was over. He knew that even were The team en route to the 123rd playing of The Game on November 18. Photo by dspics.com the score reversed, that would still be the case, but he had no idea how much it would aff ect him. The fi nal carry was a simple run to the le� for no gain. But Dawson stretched it out for as long as he could, because once he went down, he would be leaving the Harvard Stadium fi eld for good. Even the appreciative ovation he received from the swell of Crimson fans couldn’t compensate for the fi nality of it all. Two days later, Dawson was at the podium of the Harvard Club once again accepting the Frederick Greeley Crocker Award as the football team’s most valuable player. He made reference to that fi nal carry, noting how he didn’t want it to end, and he took a similar approach in accepting the latest in what had become a multi-page list of awards. While he was speaking, he was still a Harvard football player, and he wanted everyone to know how special that experience had been to him. He was careful to acknowledge his family, his teammates and his coaches — those who had helped him become the player and person he is. And with a fi nal “thank you,” Harvard Football moved into A sellout crowd of 31,025 enjoyed a beautiful day at renovated Continued on page 3 Harvard Stadium. Photo by Geoff Hargadon ‘76 Men’s Soccer Wins First Ivy Title Since 1996 by Kurt Svoboda semifi nal appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Not long a� er Assistant Director of Athletic Communications that event, the men’s program started celebrating on a regular basis on the fi eld a� er games as the Crimson reeled off victories at Back in September Harvard celebrated 100 years of soccer a near-record clip in a 14-5 campaign. with a gala event in the Murr Center, reuniting alumnae and remi- By the time November came around Harvard had spun off niscing about the success of a program that has advanced to four nine straight victories including a brutal fi ve-game road trip in which the team knocked off a pair of nationally ranked programs. The team fi nished its winning ways with its 12th Ivy League championship and fi rst since 1996, while advancing to its 12th NCAA Tournament. Along the way, Virginia and James Welch Head Coach for Harvard Men’s Soccer John Kerr’s group gained national notoriety and positioned themselves among the nation’s elite teams. But it was not an easy road for a young Crimson team that began its season starting just three returning players from a year ago in its opening game. Playing against perennial national power Old Dominion, just three returning starters from last year’s team—all sophomores—took the fi eld for the opener while reigning Ivy League Player of the Year Charles Altchek took a place on the bench with a leg injury. The injury was thought to be serious and things went from bad to worse as the team trailed 3-0 in the closing minutes. Then lightning struck as Altchek took the fi eld despite not being 100-percent and the Crimson struck Continued on page 6 F��� S����� W��� U� W����’� V��������� (11-14, 5-9 I�� L�����) S������

• The Crimson won two of its fi nal three matches to fi nish just • Harvard wrapped up the fall season ranked fi � h in the Sail- one match out of fourth place, at the end of a season that saw ing World coed national ranks and eighth in the women’s poll. Harvard’s young team make great strides. • Senior Clay Johnson took third place in the Inter-Collegiate • Behind 15 kills and 21 digs from sophomore Kathryn Sailing Association/Vanguard Men’s Singlehanded Champion- McKinley the Crimson followed a win against Columbia ship Nov. 3-4. Nov. 4 with a three-game sweep at Brown before suff ering a • Junior Kyle Kovacs placed fourth at nationals, just two season-ending 3-1 defeat against Yale. points behind Johnson. • Junior Suzie Trimble led three Harvard All-Ivy League • The Crimson women fi nished the season with a seventh- picks with her selection to the second team. place showing at the Atlantic Coast Championships Nov. 10- • Junior outside hi� er Laura Mahon garnered her third 11, while Harvard took ninth on the coed side. Harvard placed straight honorable mention All-Ivy selection. While Freshman seventh in the freshman championship a week earlier. Katherine Kocurek joined Mahon on the honorable mention • Harvard took fi rst place in seven rega� as this fall, with a list. stretch of fi ve straight weekends with at least one rega� a win. M��’� T����� F���� H����� (4-13, 4-3 I�� L�����)

• Harvard’s fi nal event of the fall was the Dartmouth Invita- • The Crimson ended the season with back-to-back wins tional (Nov. 3-6), where junior Dan Nguyen and freshman Mi- against Dartmouth and Columbia to fi nish the season with a chael Hayes teamed to win the doubles title. The duo won all winning Ivy League record and a share of second place. fi ve of its matches, the last over Crimson teammates Ashwin • Senior Aline Brown scored twice, while Kelly Knoche and Kumar and Kieran Burke by an 8-5 score. the Harvard defense shut out the Big Green, 2-0, Oct. 28. • In singles at Dartmouth, Burke reached the fi nal of the B • Junior Devon Shapiro was named to the National Field fl ight, while Kumar and Nguyen made it to the A-fl ight semis. Hockey Coaches Association All-Northeast Region second • Kumar and Sasha Ermakov led the Crimson at the Wilson/ team and the All-Ivy League fi rst team. ITA Regional Championships Oct. 19-22. They reached the • Sophomores Knoche and Kayla Romanelli were named to quarterfi nals a� er winning their fi rst two matches. the All-Ivy second team. Brown earned honorable mention • In early fall action, the Crimson posted a 2-1 record and a� er notching a team-best 10 points and sharing the team’s Sco� Denenberg won the Black fl ight at the UVa Fall Invite. goal-scoring lead with classmate Gretchen Fuller. M��’� � W����’� C���� C������ W����’� S����� (3-13-1, 2-5-0 I�� L�����) • Senior Tim Galebach became the fi rst Harvard man in six • Four Crimson players were All-Ivy League selections at years to run in the NCAA Championships when he took off season’s end. Senior captain Laura Odorczyck led the way, on the 10k course Nov. 20 in Terre Haute, IN. earning a spot on the fi rst team. It was the second All-Ivy • Galebach earned a berth at nationals with a ninth-place selection of the defender’s career. She started all 17 games on fi nish at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships. the Harvard back line. He completed the course in 31:51.1 to lead the Crimson to a • Freshman goalkeeper Lauren Mann was crowned Ivy fourth-place team fi nish. Galebach and fellow senior Sean League Rookie of the Year and named to the second team. She Barre� earned all-region honors. led the league with 84 saves and posted three shutouts. • Freshman Stacy Carlson placed 62nd to lead Harvard to a • Joining Mann on the second team were junior Megan Mer- 14th-place fi nish in the women’s race at regionals. ri� and freshman Lizzy Nichols. Merri� started every game • Harvard placed eighth in both the women’s and men’s races in the midfi eld and ranked fi � h on the team in scoring to earn at the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships. Junior Ryan her second straight nod to the second team. Nichols played Hafer represented the Crimson men on the All-Ivy League as a defender and midfi elder, leading the Crimson with nine second team. He placed 13th at Heps in 25.08.3. points and sharing the team lead with three goals. • Carlson paced the Harvard women at Heps, placing 33rd in • Harvard dropped its fi nal two games of the season against 18:25.1. tough competition. The Crimson lost, 3-1, at No. 21 Dart- mouth and 1-0 to league champion Columbia. W����’� T����� W����’� G��� • Three Harvard players won their fl ights to close out the fall season with a strong performance against Arizona, Virginia • A third-place fi nish in the Ross Resorts Invitational gave and Rice at the Harvard Invitational. Sophomore Beier Ko Harvard top-three showings in each of its four fall tourna- took the No. 1 fl ight with three wins. ments. • Freshman Lena Litvak won both her matches to claim the • Harvard turned in scores of 311, 304 and 307 in the three- No. 2 singles title and, like Ko, fi nished the fall with just a round event Oct. 30-31 in Southern Pines, NC to total 922 to single loss. place third in the 13-school fi eld. • Junior Stephanie Schni� er claimed the No. 3 fl ight with • Sophomore Emily Balmert had the Crimson’s top individual three wins. performance, placing fourth. Junior Jessica Hazle� placed • Ko and Litvak won fi ve matches each to cruise into the fi nal ninth. round of the ITA East Regional Oct. 20-24 at Dartmouth. • The Crimson opened the fall by topping 16 other teams to • Other Crimson fall highlights included a second-place fi nish take the Dartmouth Invite, then placed second at the Princ- by Preethi Mukundan and Laura Peterzan in top fl ight of the eton Invite and Yale Invite. USTA National Tennis Center Women’s Collegiate Invitational (Oct. 8-9) and Litvak’s two titles at Penn’s Cissie Leary Invite. M��’� W���� P��� M��’� G��� • Harvard took third place at the Northern Championships and seventh at the Eastern Championships in its fi nal competi- • With 43 schools and 215 athletes from all three NCAA divi- tions of the 2006 season. sions on hand, Harvard had plenty of competition in its fi nal • Six players scored goals as Harvard opened the Northern tournament of the fall, the New England Intercollegiate Golf Championships with an 8-5 come-from-behind win against Association Championship. The Crimson was up to the chal- Fordham. The Crimson dropped its semifi nal against Brown, lenge, placing fi � h with rounds of 304 and 307 for an overall 9-4, but rebounded with an 11-8 win against MIT. score of 311, 23 strokes behind fi rst-place Rhode Island. • Senior Michael Garcia ne� ed two goals in the opener and a • Freshman Greg Shuman tied for 15th in the individual hat trick against MIT to lead the Crimson off ense at Northerns. standings for Harvard’s top fi nish. On the defensive side, sophomore Jay Connolly made seven • Sophomore Michael Shore ) tied for 22nd, while freshman saves against Fordham, and freshman Nikhil Balaraman Danny Mayer placed 34th. stopped 10 MIT shots. • In its other fall events, the Crimson placed 12th at the • Garcia scored fi ve goals in his fi nal two games for the Crim- McLaughlin, sixth at the Dartmouth Invite, ninth at the Mac- son, which closed out the season with a 7-3 win against MIT in Donald Cup (Oct. 7-8) and eighth at the ECAC Champ. the seventh-place game at Easterns. 2 Football, continued from page 1 the post-Dawson era. The Crimson had a chance to formally recognize Dawson and the other members of the Class of 2007 at the annual team dinner, which falls on the Monday a� er the season-fi nale against Yale. The results of the Harvard-Yale game aside, this year’s senior class can nonetheless take its place among the greatest in school history. Harvard was a combined 31-9 in the four-year run of this year’s seniors, marking the best record by any Ivy League school in that span. Members of the Class of 2007 played no small part in the undefeated Ivy League championship season of 2004, and they helped the Crimson enter its fi nal games of 2005 and 2006 with a shot at the league title. “When you look at their legacy, this class had four very strong years and was as successful as anyone in the Ivy League since they’ve been here,” said Murphy. “It was disappointing to end the way we did because we wanted to send our seniors out with what we thought they deserved.” It was fi � ing, then, that seniors won all of the major awards at this year’s team dinner. Tight end Mark Higgins, who saw action on the Crimson’s goal-line off ense and on special teams, accepted the Henry H. Lamar Award for dedication to the pro- gram, and center Frank Fernandez, a fi xture on the off ensive line for three seasons, earned the William Paine LaCroix Trophy for enthusiasm, sportsmanship and loyalty. Thomas Stephenson Family Head Coach of Harvard Football Tim Captain Ryan Tully, who started at outside linebacker for Murphy with 2007 captain-elect Brad Bagdis ‘08. Photo by dspics.com three years, was the winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Award for desire and determination, and defensive tackle Michael Berg, tions and averaged 17.6 yards per catch. Fernandez was likewise who was fourth in Division I-AA in tackles for loss, won the Jo- selected to the fi rst team a� er serving as the anchor of Harvard’s seph E. Wolf Award as the squad’s top interior lineman. Dawson off ensive line for three seasons and providing strong interior won the Crocker Award for the second consecutive season. blocking for the Crimson’s running game. In addition to the team awards, the Crimson was well rep- Tully was chosen a� er he fi nished the year with 51 tackles resented on the All-Ivy League teams, with 13 Harvard players and seven pass breakups, providing leadership to a relatively chosen to the squads, including a league-best six fi rst team selec- young group of linebackers. Sophomore cornerback Andrew tions. Berry was a fi rst team pick a� er he fi nished with 35 tackles to go Dawson headed the list of Harvard’s honorees as he was with four pass breakups while establishing himself as one of the chosen to the All-Ivy fi rst team for the fourth time in his career. league’s top shutdown corners. He became the fi rst off ensive player in league history to be a Harvard had fi ve players chosen to the second team in senior four-time fi rst-team pick and just the second player, regardless off ensive tackle Nik Sobic, sophomore linebacker Eric Schultz, of position, to be so chosen, joining former teammate Dante Bal- sophomore defensive tackle Ma� Curtis, junior defensive end estracci ’04. Brad Bagdis (who was also named captain for the upcoming Dawson fi nished his career as the Ivy League’s all-time lead- 2007 season) and junior cornerback Steven Williams. Senior tight ing rusher, gaining 4,841 yards to surpass the previous mark of end Ma� Farbotko and junior off ensive guard David Paine were 4,715, held by former Cornell great Ed Marinaro since 1971. He honorable mention picks. also set school and league marks for rushing touchdowns (60), The recognition comes on the heels of a 7-3 season that saw total touchdowns (66), points (398) and all-purpose yards (6,138) the Crimson fi nish in third place in the Ivy League standings while becoming one of just nine Division I players to rush for at with a 4-3 Ancient Eight mark. Harvard reeled off wins in its fi rst least 1,000 yards in four seasons. fi ve games of the 2006 season, which set up a showdown for fi rst Dawson was one of two Harvard players to be unanimously place at Princeton in Week Six. chosen to the fi rst team by the Ivy League head coaches. Berg The Tigers held on for a 31-28 win in that matchup, taking was similarly selected on the defensive line a� er leading a Har- control of the Ivy League race out of the Crimson’s hands. But vard defense that ranked fi rst nationally in tackles for loss and Harvard gained a break the following week when word came second in sacks. in from Ithaca, N.Y., that Cornell had upset the Tigers. That Wide receiver Corey Mazza, who expects to return to the game, coupled with Harvard’s own shutout of Dartmouth in Crimson lineup in 2007, was named to the fi rst team for the fi rst Week Seven, meant that Harvard could win at least a piece of the time a� er he led the Ivy League with eight touchdown recep- league championship if it won its remaining three games. The Crimson followed with a solid 24-7 decision against a Columbia squad that was unquestionably the most improved team in the Ivy League, but Harvard ran into a tough Penn squad in Philadelphia the following week. Penn had entered the game a� er three straight overtime losses and a record that belied the Quakers’ relative strength. With Penn holding a seven-point lead at hal� ime, Harvard was unable to get the tying score before the Quakers added insurance points on a safety in a 22-13 Penn win. That le� Harvard a game behind Yale and Princeton in the Ivy Leauge standings, meaning that the Crimson needed to defeat the Bulldogs and see the Tigers fall to upset-minded Dartmouth in order to forge a three-way tie for the title. A� er fi ve years of relative Harvard domination against Yale, however, the Bulldogs took control of the 123rd playing of The Game early, building a 20-7 hal� ime lead and adding two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter before a late Harvard score ac- counted for the 34-13 fi nal. It was not the storybook ending that was befi � ing a senior class such as this one, nor an individual career such as Clif- ton Dawson’s. And while the greatest back to wear a Harvard uniform was appropriately disappointed in the result of his fi nal game, he was able to take an introspective look at his body of work and see nothing but positives. “I’ve had so many remarkable memories here,” said Daw- son. “I’m just so grateful to have been able to put on this jersey for four years and be part of this program. It will give me a lot of pride for the rest of my life, and I look forward to supporting Frederick Greeley Crocker Award winner (Team MVP) Cli� on Harvard Football for years to come.” Dawson ‘07 with presenter Don Allard ‘83. Photo by dspics.com. 3 CRIMSON PHOTO GALLERY

Alumnae from every generation of Harvard Women’s Volleyball were 2001 Football Team Captain Ryan FitzGerald ‘02 speaks at the Harvard- on hand to celebrate 25 years of the program at Harvard. The weekend Yale Luncheon on the Friday before The Game. Close to 50 members of included a reception in the Barnaby Gallery following The Game and an the 2001 team were among the 140 in a� endance at the luncheon, which alumnae game at the Malkin Athletic Center on Sunday, November 19. included a special recognition of the 5-year anniversary of the unde- feated / Ivy championship 2001 season.

L to R: Yale Athletic Director Tom Becke� , Jerome Kenney Y’63, Thomas Stephenson ‘64 and Nichols Family Director of Athletics Bob Scalise L to R: Nancy Jo ‘00, Lauren Fabian ‘02, Anna Fraser ‘03, Rachael moments a� er the ceremonial coin toss at The Game. Stephenson and O’Beirne ‘03, Janna McDougall ‘02, and Sarah Iannacone ‘02 at the Kenney will be honored at the Ivy Football Association Dinner on Janu- Swimming & Diving Alumni Meet held November 18th. ary 25, 2007 in New York City. Picture by dspics.com.

B A

A: Hal� ime at The Game featured a presentation of the Stadium Project donors. L-R: Joe Donovan ‘72, Thomas Stephenson ‘64, Ernest Monrad ‘51, Joseph O’Donnell ‘67, Walter Grant ‘66, Kevin McCaf- ferty ‘76, Gerald Jordan, Jr. ‘61, Brian Hehir ‘75, Richard Frisbie ‘ 71, William Collatos ‘76, Nichols Family Director of Athletics Bob Scalise and Varsity Club Executive Director Bob Glatz ‘88. Not pictured: James Callinan ‘82, Albert Gordon ’23, Thomas Joyce ‘77, and Craig Stapleton ‘67. B: Posing with The Li� le Red Flag before The Game are members of the Berg family. C: Varsity Club President Bob Anderson ‘61 presenting an honorary membership to Dr. Mark D Steiner ‘72 and (D) Phil Haughey ‘57 at the Club’s C Annual Meeting on November 6th.

4 Cli� on Dawson ‘07: Gi� ed and Well-Grounded by Andrea Chaknis Dawson also took over the Ivy League’s career rushing record, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications set in 1971 by Cornell’s Ed Marinaro. Running backs coach Sean Ryan is in his fi rst year coaching Senior record-breaking running back Cli� on Dawson quickly Dawson and has found the pursuit of Marinaro’s record to be a found his footing at Harvard. quiet one. It’s been an unlikely story from the beginning. His journey to “I’ve never heard him talk about it,” says the Ivy League record books has been anything but storybook. But Ryan. “He never mentions it. The only time you Dawson wouldn’t have it any other way. hear him say anything about it is when report- The youngest of six, Dawson was born in Ontario to Jamaican ers ask him. He’s got a very team-fi rst approach parents. He spent his early years shu� ling back and forth between to the game.” Jamaica, where his father lived, and Canada, where his mother Ryan admires Dawson’s talent lived. Finally, when Dawson was seven, he and his father moved and his competitiveness. Calling back to Canada, to live permanently. Six years later, when he was Dawson the most competitive 13, his parents divorced. Dawson’s mother was forced to work player he’s over coached, Ryan’s several jobs to provide for her children at home, while his oldest outlook has changed now that he sister Sheone� e, cared for the younger kids. He credits his sister as and Dawson are on the same side his biggest mentor while growing up. of the fi eld. “She was really independent,” he says. “She had done well in “I had to watch him from school. My sister practically raised me while my mom was work- the other side [at Columbia],” ing two or three jobs.” says Ryan. “I didn’t really At about age 10, he saw an advertisement in a local newspa- have to deal with him. But I per for a club youth football league. He and his best friend at the can tell you, Saturdays are a lot time decided to try out. What a� racted Dawson wasn’t so much more fun when you’re wearing the prospect of playing football, but the opportunities that seemed the same shirt as he is.” to be a� ached. It’s a sentiment echoed “The ad said you could go to away games on a bus,” Dawson by his teammates. Senior remembers. “The travel is really what enticed me.” off ensive lineman Nik Sobic So he and his friend tried out for the team. The friend got cut, calls Dawson “the but Dawson didn’t. No one in his family drove so Dawson relied quintessential football player” upon public transportation to get to practices and games. He can — articulate and well-man- still vividly remember riding the bus with all his gear on to get to nered off the fi eld, a leadership practice. For Dawson, it was just what you did to pursue what you presence in the locker room wanted. But he quickly tired of the routine and not ge� ing to hang and an all-around nice guy. out with his best friend. Realizing he would rather go home a� er He prides himself on school and be with his friend, Dawson quit football. how physical a player he is. Fortunately for the Crimson, that decision didn’t stick. Both Ryan and Sobic agree that Dawson returned to club play two years later with a new kind of Dawson is an excellent player determination. even without the ball in his Once Dawson got to high school, he played for the school hands; both call Dawson a very good blocker. team during his freshman year. Then he did something most play- “He could play any position on that fi eld. I really believe ers wouldn’t: he quit the team to return to playing club football. that,” Sobic says. “I’ve got 100 pounds on him and sometimes he On the surface, it seemed like a risky move, but he thinks it ben- does a be� er job blocking guys than I do. A lot of running backs efi ted his development as a player. According to him, club football don’t play as physical as he does. He has no problem lowering his was much more competitive than high school ball in Canada. shoulder and running you over.” It was around his freshman year that Dawson began dreaming of a Ryan adds, “He’s the best tailback I’ve ever seen in blocking. I career in football. can’t say enough about him that way.” “In ninth grade, someone told me that if I continued to play, Murphy couldn’t agree more. I could probably head to the States to play college football,” says “What makes him so special is the incredible passion that he Dawson. “It became my life’s ambition, my life’s goal.” plays with on game day,” says Murphy. “That passion, toughness By the time he graduated from high school, he was recruited and intensity not only contribute to an incredibly high standard of by a number of Division I-A programs before enrolling at North- play but also make everyone around him be� er.” western University, becoming the fi rst member of his family to For his part, Dawson is just happy to be on the fi eld doing a� end college. He was redshirted during his freshman year at the what he loves to do, at peace with his decision to play at Harvard. Big Ten school. A� er a semester, he decided he was ready for a His mother has never visited him in Cambridge, but she did make change of scenery. it to the Yale game— Dawson’s fi nal appearance in a Crimson “I decided I was too comfortable at Northwestern,” said Daw- uniform. When she came across the bridge toward the fi eld, gaz- son. “I needed to branch out and challenge myself in new ways.” ing at the 20-by-25 foot banner of her son, Dawson knew she’d feel He thought it was kind of a longshot, but he decided to apply immense pride and excitement. for admission at Harvard, despite the Ivy League policy of not “I’m honored to be one of the faces of Harvard football,” he granting athletic scholarships. To his great delight, he was ac- said prior to the Yale game. “I can’t wait until my mom sees that. It cepted. Once he arrived in Cambridge for good, he was pleasantly will bring her to tears. When she sees how I’ve been living for the surprised to fi nd that he was embraced by the university. last four years … it’s probably going to blow her mind. “I won’t say I was intimidated,” says Dawson, so� ly. “But “Knowing I a� end Harvard is something that makes her I wondered how I’d fi t in with ‘typical’ Harvard students. How smile every day,” adds Dawson, an economics concentrator. “To would I communicate with them? How could I talk to kids who be that source of pride for her really means a lot to me.” were debate champions? I’d never heard of anyone who went to Dawson is cautiously looking ahead to a potential NFL career, Harvard, except people in textbooks or on TV. This was a school with a back-up plan of returning home as he has already been for fi nancially fortunate people. I never fi t in that category. What dra� ed by the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts. He may pursue coach- would I be doing here?” ing someday, hoping to make a diff erence to kids who come from What indeed. backgrounds similar to his own, but he’s quick to caution that his Since arriving at Harvard in 2003, Dawson has broken most season with the Crimson isn’t over. every record Harvard keeps for running backs. Virtually every “I’m not ready to look back at my career yet,” says Dawson. game this season saw yet another Ivy League record fall at the “I’m in a really good place in my life right now, and I’m not ready hands and feet of Dawson. to think of it ending.” “Cli� on Dawson has had an impact on Harvard football and “It’s really cool to think you can come to a place like Harvard the Ivy League that few other athletes ever have,” according to and leave a part of yourself,” Dawson adds quietly. head coach Tim Murphy. There’s no doubt that Dawson’s indelible mark will remain on Dawson became Harvard’s career rushing leader midway both Harvard and the Ivy League for a long time. As the last few through his junior year. He holds the Ivy League career record for records fell and he claimed the top of every imaginable statistical total points scored and became just the eighth Division I player to category, Cli� on Dawson has certainly found a place among the rush for 1,000 yards four times, joining an elite group that includes Ivy League’s all-time greats, etched into a storybook that will be Tony Dorse� and Ron Dayne. read for a long time. - Originally published in Harvard Football News (11/18/06) 5 Men’s Soccer, continued from page 1 thrashing of the Bears. Fucito went on to be named the National Player of the Week and from that point on, Harvard became a for three goals in a span of just 6:16. While ODU went on to win fi xture in national polls and news columns. the game, the opening 90 minutes dictated that Harvard fans The Crimson would fi nish the season with its highest rank- would be in for an exciting brand of soccer in 2006. ing in more than a decade at 13th overall. Goals came from up Despite boasting signifi cant fi repower on off ense, Kerr’s and down the lineup sheet as Harvard fi nished the regular season Crimson sat at just 5-4 a� er a September 27 loss at Rhode Island. as the nation’s top-scoring off ense with 44 goals in 17 games with Worse still, Harvard had a lackluster game the previous out- six players recording double fi gures in points. Individual awards ing as the Crimson dropped a 3-1 decision at Penn in its league were numerous and included: opener. The road would get no easier September 30 with Harvard Altchek, who played through pain to a unanimous selec- hosting a Yale team that had won three straight games versus the tion as the league’s Player of the Year. The honor resulted in Crimson. Gut-check time took on several permeations that day him becoming just the third player in league history to win the as Harvard twice came back from one-goal diff erentials to post a award twice; Freshman Andre Akpan pulled down the league’s thrilling 3-2 victory. Rookie of the Year honor in unanimous fashion while also earning That win kick-started a Harvard team that would not lose National Rookie of the Year accolades from Top Drawer Soccer again until the second round of the NCAA Tournament. A key Magazine; Fucito was also a unanimous selection to the All-Ivy fi ve-game road stretch began on an ominous note at 19th-ranked team while Nyamekye, Ma� Hoff and John Stamatis also were Fairfi eld as the Stags went ahead, 1-0. But Harvard rallied with recognized for their play. just over six minutes remaining on a goal from standout fresh- Once in the tournament fi eld, Harvard came from behind man Kwaku Nyamekye, and the Crimson went home victorious to knock off Binghamton, 2-1, in the fi rst round at home in front when Michael Fucito banged home the game-winner at the 109:17 of a raucous crowd. The team then headed across the country to mark—just 43 seconds before the game would have ended in a tie. face UCLA which became the only team in 49 days to defeat the Five days later, Harvard rolled into Providence, RI for a Crimson (3-0). matchup against the 14th-ranked and defending league champion It was certainly a season to remember and a great way to Brown Bears. A� er again falling behind 1-0 Harvard dominated kick off the next 100 years of Harvard men’s soccer. play behind Fucito, who had two goals and three assists in a 6-2 W����� S����� R����� M��’� S����� (2-0, 1-0 I�� L�����) W�������� • The Crimson swept its way to wins against Brown and Wil- • Senior Bode Ogunwole won the 285-pound weight class at liams to open the 2006-07 season. the 41st NWCA All-Star Classic Nov. 20 in Dallas. The senior • Harvard did not lose a game Nov. 17 against the Bears, and All-American, who is ranked second nationally in his weight no game was closer than 9-5. Senior Ilan Oren had the most class, defeated No. 4 Spencer Nadolsky of North Carolina, 3-2, dominant performance, surrendering just two points for a 9-0, in sudden victory. Ogunwole was the fi rst Harvard wrestler to 9-0, 9-2 win at No. 2. compete in the All-Star match. • Williams managed to take one game and was competitive in • Ogunwole and his teammates began the season two days many of the other 27 against the Crimson Nov. 19, but could earlier at the ESU Open, where the 22nd-ranked Crimson not keep Harvard from the weekend sweep. Senior Garne� boasted seven placewinners. Sophomore Louis Caputo, Booth posted a 9-2, 9-0, 9-0 victory at No. 5. ranked 11th at 184 pounds, led the Crimson with a second- • The team is led by a strong group of seven seniors, includ- place fi nish. He recorded two major decisions en route to his ing 2005-06 All-America selections Oren and Siddharth championship bout. Suchde. • Junior Bobby Latessa took fourth at 157 a� er beating out • Next up for the Crimson is a Nov. 29 home match against teammate Ma� Bu� on for a spot in the third-place match. Dartmouth. Harvard hits the road for the fi rst time Dec. 2 at A pair of freshmen debuted with top-fi ve showings, J.P. Cornell. O’Connor at 145 and Frankie Colle� a at 165. • Up next for the Crimson is the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invita- W����’� S������� (5-0, 5-0 I�� L�����) tional Dec. 1-2, followed by the team’s fi rst dual meet Dec. 10 • The Crimson needed just two weeks of the 2006-07 season at American. Harvard wraps up the 2006 calendar year at the to move within two wins of a third straight perfect Ivy League Midlands Championships Dec. 29-30 at Northwestern. season. With that goal on hold until the HYP meet Feb. 2-3, Harvard now concentrates on making a mark outside the Bode Ogunwole ‘07 league. • A� er competing in the Georgia Invitational Dec. 1-3, Har- vard puts its streak of 25 straight dual-meet wins on the line Jan. 5 at Rutgers and hosts New Hampshire Jan. 26. • CollegeSwimming.com once again ranks the Crimson as the nation’s top team in its power rankings of squads with limited or no scholarships. • Harvard has shown his depth with contributions from throughout its lineup in wins against Penn (198- 100), Brown (190-107), Dartmouth (187.5- 109.5), Cornell (193-102) W����’� S����� (2-0, 1-0 I�� L�����) and Columbia (193-102) • Like their male counterparts, the Harvard women cruised so far. to a 2-0 record with sweeps of Brown and Williams on the • The Crimson defeated season’s fi rst weekend Nov. 17 and 19. the Bears, Big Green • The Crimson did not drop a game in their season opener and Cornell in one against the Bears. Junior Jennifer Blumberg led Harvard with weekend Nov. 10 and a 9-1, 9-1, 9-0 victory at No. 2. Senior Audrey Duboc posted a 12 as freshman Sophie 9-0, 9-2, 9-0 win in the No. 4 slot. Morgan fi nished the • The Ephs won two games and forced the Crimson into extra two weekend meets points on two other occasions, but Harvard managed another with 100- and 200- 9-0 team win to close out the weekend. Freshman Charlene yard freestyles, the 200 Neo took a 9-1, 9-0, 9-1 win at No. 8, while senior Sarah bu� erfl y and the 200 Thorndike won by a 9-2, 9-0, 9-2 count in the ninth position. individual medley. • Senior captain Kyla Grigg leads the Crimson a� er earning • Junior Samantha All-America honors a year ago. Blumberg and junior Supriya Papadakis has won all Balsekar are also coming off All-America seasons in 2005-06. Samantha eight diving events in • The Crimson takes a two-month break from competition Papadakis ‘08 Harvard’s four meets. for holidays and fi nals a� er hosting Dartmouth Nov. 29 and traveling to Cornell Dec. 2. 6 W����� S����� R����� W����’� H����� (9-1-0, 9-1-0 ECAC) M��’� H����� (3-8-0, 2-7-0 ECAC) • With nearly half its ECAC Hockey League contests out of • With big home wins against No. 3 Boston College and the way, red-hot, seventh-ranked Harvard is tied atop the ECAC Hockey League leader Quinnipiac, the Crimson has league standings with No. 6 Dartmouth, its travel partner. The shown signs of breaking out of its early-season slump, but has Crimson has won its last six games, the latest a 5-0 statement not yet been able to put together a winning streak. win Nov. 25 at No. 8 Princeton. • Harvard shut out the Eagles, 4-0, Nov. 7 behind 36 saves by • The Crimson has excelled on both ends of the ice and in all ECACHL Rookie of the Week Kyle Richter. The Crimson fol- phases of the game. Harvard leads the nation in scoring de- lowed with a great eff ort Nov. 10 at 11th-ranked Cornell, but fense (1.20 goals-against per game) and power-play effi ciency the Big Red ne� ed two goals in the fi nal fi ve minutes for a 3-2 (27/79, .342) and ranks second in scoring off ense (5.80 goals win. Harvard bounced back with a 4-1 win the following night per game) and penalty killing (61/67, .910). at Colgate. • Senior Julie Chu and sophomores Jenny Brine and Sarah • Three straight losses—two by 2-1 scores—took away the Vaillancourt are together on the ice and at the top of the na- Crimson’s momentum before Harvard rallied from a 2-0 tional scoring chart with averages of 3.25, 2.50 and 2.38 points defi cit to beat the No. 20 Bobcats, 4-2, with three points from per game, respectively. Brine scored two goals freshman Alex Biega and two from Mike against Princeton to raise her Division I-leading Taylor. goal total to 15 to go with 10 assists. Chu’s 26 • Freshman Doug Rogers leads the Crim- points includes an NCAA-best 18 assists, while son with nine points (2-7), while Biega Vaillancourt has put up 19 points (10-9). Junior and seniors Kevin Du and Ryan Maki Caitlin Cahow ranks second in defenseman have registered eight points each. Maki scoring with 1.38 points per game. leads the Crimson with fi ve goals. • Freshman Christina Kessler made 30 saves • Biega is tied for third in the nation in against the Tigers for her fi rst career shutout. scoring by a freshman defenseman at Sophomore Bri� any Martin started Harvard’s 0.73 points per game (3-5-8). Captain other three shutouts, which came in the team’s Dylan Reese is tied for 24th nationally fi rst three games. and fourth among defensemen with four • Senior Katie Johnston notched four points in power-play goals. wins over Colgate and Cornell to earn ECACHL • Harvard plays home games against Player of the Week honors Nov. 13, an honor Vermont (Nov. 28) and Dartmouth (Dec. garnered by Brine a week later. 16) before playing seven straight games • No. 10 Minnesota Duluth visits Bright Hockey away from home. Center Dec. 1- 2 for the fi rst two of four home Sophomore games in the month for the Crimson. Jenny Brine

M��’� B��������� (2-3, 0-0 I�� L�����) W����’� B��������� (0-4, 0-0 I�� L�����) • The Crimson has held three hal� ime leads, but has been un- • Senior leadership has been the key so far for the Crimson, able to hang on for its fi rst win of 2006-07. Harvard hosts BYU which has won two of its fi rst fi ve games. Either guard Jim Nov. 29 before heading to Berkeley, CA, for the Contra Costa Goff redo or center Brian Cusworth has owned or shared Times Classic Dec. 2-3. the team scoring lead in each game. Cusworth scored 20 and • Sophomores Niki Finelli and Katie Rollins scored 19 points Goff redo ne� ed 19 in a 75-71 win against Maine in the season apiece with Rollins adding 10 rebounds and Finelli post- opener Nov. 11. ing fi ve steals, but East Carolina rallied for an 80-71 win in • Cusworth followed that eff ort with a career-high 24 points Harvard’s season opener Nov. 17 in the TD Banknorth Classic against Boston University Nov. 14, but the Terriers edged the at Vermont. A night later Holy Cross withstood a career-high Crimson, 75-71. Harvard then suff ered an 82-50 loss Nov. 17 at 16 rebounds from Crimson senior Christiana Lackner to win, Michigan, and Holy Cross used a 14-0 second-half run to pull 69-57. away and overcome a 22-point eff ort from Goff redo for an 82- • The Crimson opened its home schedule Nov. 22 against 69 win Nov. 21. Quinnipiac. The Bobcats hit 14 of their 21 second-half shots to • Harvard got back on track Nov. 25 against Lehigh, leading build a lead. Junior Lindsay Hallion and sophomore Emily by as many as 22 points on the way to an 83-75 win. Cusworth Tay grabbed four steals each to lead a late comeback a� empt, registered 20 points and seven rebounds in that contest, and but Quinnipiac hit its free throws for an 82-74 win. Tay had 23 sophomore guard Drew Housman added 18 points and four points and eight assists in the loss, and Hallion scored 14. assists. • Finelli registered 20 points and seven rebounds in a 73-57 • Cusworth paces Harvard with 16 points, eight rebounds loss at Fairfi eld Nov. 25 and leads Harvard with 14.8 points and two blocks per game. Three other players are averaging per game and 50 percent three-point shooting (8-for-16). Tay double fi gures in scoring: Goff redo with 14.4 points per game, scored 15 points against the Stags and averages 13 points and Housman with 12 and sophomore Evan Harris with 10.2. a team-high six assists and three steals per contest. Lackner • The Crimson plays nine of its next 11 games on the road. leads the team with 7.3 rebounds per game.

M��’� S������� (3-1, 3-1 EISL) M��’� � W����’� F������ • The defending NCAA champion Crimson kicked off its re- • Last season’s version of the Crimson responded to an early- peat bid with a strong showing at the Garret Penn State Open season loss at Columbia by winning the rest of its dual meets Nov. 4-6. to share the EISL dual-meet title. Harvard took the fi rst step in • Six women fi nished in the top 10 in their respective weap- repeating that formula with a 171-127 victory over the Lions ons. Junior Emily Cross wrapped up last season by taking the Nov. 17, six days a� er losing at Cornell, 167-131. NCAA title in foil and started 2006-07 in winning fashion. She • The Crimson opened the season with a 189-101 win Nov. 4 went 28-0 in three rounds of pool competition, then won three against Penn and posted a 230-65 win over Dartmouth as part matches in the elimination bracket to win the event. Cross was of the meet at Cornell. one of three Crimson athletes in the top 10 in foil. • Four swimmers came through with two individual wins • Junior Carolyn Wright placed fourth to lead three Harvard each against Columbia. Senior Jason Degnan-Rojeski won fi nishers in the sabre. Just a spot behind her in the sabre stand- both backstroke events, and sophomore Dan Jones took both ings was freshman Eva Rosenberg. bu� erfl ies. Juniors Geoff Rathgeber and Sam Wollner swept •The men’s squad was led by senior Tim Hagamen and the breaststroke and distance events, respectively. sophomore Kai Itameri-Kinter. Hagamen placed fourth in a • The Crimson travels south to take on some of the nation’s 53-man sabre fi eld, and Itameri-Kinter took sixth among 65. top swimmers at the Georgia Invitational Dec. 1-3 and visits • The Harvard women return to action Nov. 29, when they Rutgers Jan. 5. Harvard hosts Navy in its next home meet Jan. host Brandeis. The men will compete in the NYU Invitational 6. Dec. 2.

7 HARVARD VARSITY CLUB, INC. Murr Center FIRST CLASS 65 North Harvard Street U.S. POSTAGE Boston, MA PAID 02163-1012 BOSTON, MA (617) 495-3535 PERMIT NO. 53825 Fax: (617) 496-8296

FIRST CLASS

For more information on events contact the Varsity Club at 617.495.3535 or [email protected] or 617.495.3535 at Club Varsity the contact events on information more For

at Waldorf, 6 PM IFA cocktails in Grand Ballroom, 7 PM IFA dinner, Waldorf-Astoria in NYC in Waldorf-Astoria dinner, IFA PM 7 Ballroom, Grand in cocktails IFA PM 6 Waldorf, at

25 – Ivy Football Association Dinner & Pre-Dinner Reception for Tom Stephenson ‘64, 5 PM reception in suite suite in reception PM 5 ‘64, Stephenson Tom for Reception Pre-Dinner & Dinner Association Football Ivy – 25

7 – Hockey Family Skate, Bright Hockey Center, 11 AM 11 Center, Hockey Bright Skate, Family Hockey – 7

JANUARY 2007 JANUARY

11 - Men’s Soccer Awards Banquet, Harvard Club of Comm. Ave., 6 PM 6 Ave., Comm. of Club Harvard Banquet, Awards Soccer Men’s - 11

10 – Field Hockey Awards Banquet, Harvard Club on Comm. Ave., 1 PM 1 Ave., Comm. on Club Harvard Banquet, Awards Hockey Field – 10

5 – Men’s Water Polo Team Banquet, Lee Family Hall of History in the Murr Center, 6:30 PM 6:30 Center, Murr the in History of Hall Family Lee Banquet, Team Polo Water Men’s – 5

2 – Women’s Hockey Alumnae Game, Bright Hockey Center, 2 p.m. 2 Center, Hockey Bright Game, Alumnae Hockey Women’s – 2

December December

Upcoming Friends and Varsity Club Events Club Varsity and Friends Upcoming

Memorial Garden on Deer Island in Massachuse� s. Deer Island Island Deer s. Massachuse� in Island Deer on Garden Memorial M�� 11, 2007 11, M��

Judge David A. Mazzone (‘50) Mazzone A. David Judge Plans are in the works for a a for works the in are Plans

Varsity Club Hall of Fame Dinner Fame of Hall Club Varsity

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Club community. Club

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member and friend of everyone in the Harvard tennis and Varsity Varsity and tennis Harvard the in everyone of friend and member

the Varsity Club since 1958. Ned was a very loyal tennis board board tennis loyal very a was Ned 1958. since Club Varsity the

at 45 Mt. Vernon Street, Boston, MA 02108. MA Boston, Street, Vernon Mt. 45 at of member a also was He passing. his to prior just hit-around

Philip Isenberg ‘51 ‘51 Isenberg Philip in his honor. If you would like to help, contact contact help, to like would you If honor. his in alumni group’s the in participated having Tennis, Harvard of

hard to raise the money needed to erect an appropriate memorial memorial appropriate an erect to needed money the raise to hard Friends the of member active very a was Ned November. late in

Ned Weld ‘59 ‘59 ‘59 eld Weld W Ned Ned We are saddened to report of the passing of of of passing passing passing the the the of of of report report report to to to saddened saddened saddened are are are We We We and the Judge Dave Mazzone Memorial Commi� ee is working working is ee Commi� Memorial Mazzone Dave Judge the and

***** area. The MWRA recently voted to name this park a� er Mazzone Mazzone er a� park this name to voted recently MWRA The area.

is one of the chain of Boston Harbor Islands in the National Park Park National the in Islands Harbor Boston of chain the of one is www.genesfund.org. to go

mation on the fund and how to help the next group of students students of group next the help to how and fund the on mation

ing for items such as health insurance, travel, etc. For more infor- more For etc. travel, insurance, health as such items for ing

various schools in the fall of ‘05 thanks to the eff orts of the Fund. the of orts eff the to thanks ‘05 of fall the in schools various

applications submi� ed, updating the visas, and providing fund- providing and visas, the updating ed, submi� applications

several members of the Ukrainian hockey team that were admi� ed to to ed admi� were that team hockey Ukrainian the of members several

Eugene Kinasewich Fund was responsible for ge� ing the school school the ing ge� for responsible was Fund Kinasewich Eugene

Eugene Kinasewich Fund Board Chairman Bill Becke� ’62 introducing introducing ’62 Becke� Bill Chairman Board Fund Kinasewich Eugene

Although all of these students are on full scholarship, The The scholarship, full on are students these of all Although

their coaches and/or others from the administration. the from others and/or coaches their

and some came from as far as three hours away. They came with with came They away. hours three as far as from came some and

donors. Thirteen student-athletes a� ended the event (out of 18) 18) of (out event the ended a� student-athletes Thirteen donors.

benefi � ed from the fund to meet some of the organizers and and organizers the of some meet to fund the from ed � benefi

prep-schools. This event was a chance for the students who have have who students the for chance a was event This prep-schools.

as they work their way through several New England area area England New several through way their work they as

The fund currently supports 18 young Ukrainian students students Ukrainian young 18 supports currently fund The

and in the United States. States. United the in and

athletic exchanges for needy and worthy students from abroad abroad from students worthy and needy for exchanges athletic

assistance and opportunities for educational, cultural, artistic and and artistic cultural, educational, for opportunities and assistance

by Gene, his family and friends, was created to provide fi nancial nancial fi provide to created was friends, and family his Gene, by ey captain and Varsity Club Hall of Famer. This fund, established established fund, This Famer. of Hall Club Varsity and captain ey

know, Kinasewich, class of 1964, was a Harvard hock- Harvard a was 1964, of class Kinasewich, know, O

the Eugene Kinasewich Fund, Inc. As many of you you of many As Inc. Fund, Kinasewich Eugene the

host to an event celebrating the accomplishments of of accomplishments the celebrating event an to host

n October 26th the Lee Family Hall of History played played History of Hall Family Lee the 26th October n

Assistant Director of the Harvard Varsity Club Varsity Harvard the of Director Assistant

by Michele McLaughlin Michele by CRIMSON COMMENTARY CRIMSON