Soccer

The soccer season kicks off on September 26th when the Indian booters clash with the University of Connecticut in Hanover, and veteran coach Tom Dent reports that this is largely a rebuilding year with a great deal depending on how the sophomores develop. Dent has eight lettermen returning from last year's team which had an average record.

Heading the returning lettermen is Captain Mitch Engle, a center halfback. Engle was injured in the second game of the season last year and had to sit out the balance of the schedule. He is an outstanding player and Coach Dent reports that if Engle can stay healthy it will make a major difference to the team.

The other lettermen are Don Betterton at outside right, fullbacks Jay Crane and Nick Muller, halfback Bob Evans, and forwards Sam McMurtrie and Fred Fields.

Bill Marx, the son of Bill Marx '28, and Bob Brignano are two other returning halfbacks with experience, but the nucleus of the team must come from sophomores.

The top sophomore prospects include last year's freshman soccer captain, Mike Schwartz, a halfback, plus Dave Smith and Sam Nuckols, who are also halfbacks. Up forward Dent has Eric Streuli, Dick Harris from Brazil, and the Johnson twins, Hugh and Stewart. Jerry Pepper, a promising candidate according to Dent, is unable to play this fall for medical reasons and will be missed.

A major problem will be to find a goal tender to replace All-American Randy Malin. Last year's freshman goal tender, Duke Ellington, and sophomore Bob Brower are the current candidates.

In general Dent expects to have a fairly good defensive team, but a great deal of the Indians' midfield and forward strength will depend on how fast the sophomore crop develops. This year's Dartmouth team will not be the strongest in recent years, but they could do better than last year.