The lazy daze of summer has faded, replaced by the buzzing excitement of preseason practices, and Harvard field hockey Coach Sue Caples is happy.

The beginning of the season means a fresh start. No heart-breaking losses to worry about. Standings, titles, and NCAA tournament berths are still empty words right now, and anything is possible.

Last year is just that: last year. For Caples and the Crimson, the 1992 season was entirely forgettable.

After leading Harvard to its first Ivy League title in 1990 and its first NCAA tournament appearance in 1991, Caples watched her team fall from first to worst in the Ivy League standings last year. Her young and inexperienced team finished with a 4-9-2 recordoverall and tied Cornell for last. But the formerAll-American Caples begins her sixth season ashead coach with the firm belief that Harvard willnot frequent the Ancient Eight cellar againanytime soon.

The Crimson also has an added incentive torecapture the Ivy crown this year. For the firsttime, the league's champion receives an automaticspot in the NCAA tourney.

"We took our lumps last season," Caples said."We were one or two players shy, and we missed toomany opportunities in the close games."

Caples said in 1992 she compromised her lineuptoo much when she had to move players around tocompensate for injury or inexperience.

"One of our goals early is to solidify alineup," Caples said. "And we have to haveeveryone healthy."

With nine starters returning, including fiveseniors who played on the 1991 team and a core ofseven sophomores all of whom saw action in 1992,last year's inexperienced players are this year'sveterans.

The Crimson should be particularly strong downthe right side of the field, where the team'sstrength, speed and experience are consolidated.

Sophomore midfielder Carrie Shumway and seniorforward Sarah Downing overwhelmed opponents downthe right side with their speed and quickness alllast season and should continue to do so thisyear.

(Although Shumway has been plagued by an injurylately, Caples said the sophomore will play in theCrimson's season-opener Friday against NewHampshire at Cumnock Field).

Co-captain Francie Walton won Ivy League Rookieof the Year in her first season and was Harvard'sonly first team All-Ivy player last year.

The Chestnut Hill native will most likely movefrom her more familiar back position to themidfield this season.

Downing, Shumway, Walton, junior Sarah Wintersand sophomore Maureen O'Brien need to bolster aCrimson attack that could only muster 19 goalslast season.

Harvard must work on its corner battery untilit poses a serious threat to opponents every timeand makes good use of Walton's deadly shot.