Warming to the task of playing the top-ranked teams in the East in the next few weeks, the Harvard water polo team beat up on some weaker competition Saturday at MIT.

Playing in an invitational tourney--really a practice for all the participants since no champion was chosen--the aquamen routed Army, 16-5, in a game even more lopsided than the score indicates. With an 8-1 cushion after the first quarter. Coach Steve Pike substituted freely, using only subs by the game send.

The Crimson bench handled the Cadets well enough in the later going, but it was the regulars who opened it up earlier, especially Counney Roberts with four goals, while sophomore Brian Graham starred in goal, posting Harvard's lowest goals-against mark of the young season.

The 2-2 Crimson will see some tougher opponents, including Brown, the East's number-two team, at the Harvard Tournament, set for Saturday and Sunday at Blodgett.

THE NOTEBOOK: Coach Pike had praise for the sharp performances of the three freshmen in Saturday's starting lineup--David Chao, Mike Rogers and Bobby Strauss.