Harvard Varsity Skaters Humiliate Big Red, 8-2

Lynah Rink, never quiet, underwent a transformation last night when Harvard's varsity skaters subdued Cornell's 4200 normally vociferous fans by exploding after a close first period to demolish the Big Red, 8-2.

Seniors Jim McMahon and Randy Roth each scored the hat trick to pace the Crimson attack, as Harvard picked up its second consecutive victory in Ithaca, N.Y. on the road to the Ivy League title.

Last year the Crimson dealt Cornell its first home Ivy loss in 44 games, and the Big Red skaters had anxiously awaited the chance to avenge that defeat this season in front of their loyal supporters.

Instead, the Cornell icemen eliminated themselves from the Ivy race while Harvard boosted its League mark to 9-0. The Crimson now boasts an impressive 16-1-0 ECAC record.

The Big Red delighted its Lynah crowd by drawing first blood at 2:16 of the opening period. Four minutes inter Harvard held a 3-2 lead, having driven Cornell's starting netminder, Dave Chrastina, out of the game. By the period's close, the Crimson had lengthened the margin to 4-2.

Brian Campbell opened the scoring, beating Harvard goalie Brian Petrovek on the glove side with a shot from just inside the blue line. Roth answered back 35 seconds later, however, picking up a power play goal on a perfect pass from Steve Dagdigian.

Leigh Hogan launched the Crimson ahead, 2-1, during another man-up situation, and Dave Gauthier extended the lead to a 3-1 when his shot deflected off a Cornell defenseman over Chrastina's shoulder.

Big Red winger John Harper narrowed the gap to 3-2, slipping a power play screen shot past Petrovek at 523 McMahon earned Harvard's fourth tally at 13:55 by scoring into an open net on a rebound.

The contest turned into a rout during the second period, with the Crimson outshooting Cornell, 16.2, and collecting three unanswered goals Roth gave Harvard a 5-2 lead at 4.42 during a power play and McMahon sced the game by completing his hat trick

Roth earned his third goal at 12:49 of the final period, ending the debacle.