Harvard Six Demolishes Vermont, 10-1

The finest college hockey team in the nation put on another spectacular show at the Watson Rink last night. The victim this time was a highly-touted squad from the University of Vermont, ranked third in current ECAC standings. The final score win 10-1 Harvard.

The onslaught began immediately before want fans had even managed to get their seats warmed up. Approximately 210 seconds after the opening faceoff, the awesome Crimson marauders had score four times, and the mercy-killing had been performed.

It took only 58 seconds to get the show on the road, as Harvard defenseman Todd Nieland blasted a shot from the points which was tipped past Vermont goal s Tom McNamara by Ted Thorndike Crimson wing Jim Thomas also picked up an assist the play, the first of five for him in the game.

Twenty seconds later, the crowd was its feet again as Leigh Hogan took a pass from Thorndike (via Thomas) directly in front of the U.V.s net and best the bewildered McNamara clearly. Two nothing after 1:18.

Dave Bell, Jim, McMahon and Steve Degdigian took over the spotlight 90 seconds later, combining on a perfect passing play. Bell swept into the corner with the puck and directed a centering pass to McMahon, who then slipped the disc to Degdigian in front. Three to nothing after 2:49.

Harvard then allowed its fans about 40 seconds of rest and recuperation before Dave Gauthier picked up number four Taking a pass from captain Randy Roth, defenseman Ed Rossi let loose a drive from the point which was directed goalward by Gauthier McNamara made another determined effort, but came up empty, Four to nothing after 3:30.

Rash of Penalties

A rash of penalties against Harvard evened things up for a while, as Vermont's power play managed a few shots on Crimson netminder Brian Petrovek. The euphoria at the U.Vm zone and buzzed premature, however. The worst was yet to come.

With Gauthier sitting in the penalty box serving time for a cross checking infraction, Vermont began its fourth power play effort at 15:32. Crimson defenseman Steve Janicek joined Gauthier in the sinbin at 16:35, Vermont had a two-man advantage.

Pass Interception

At 17:46 with Harvard still one man down Thomas intercepted a pass at center ice skated into the U.Vm zone buzzed 40-footer by McNamara's right car. Five to nothing, a bona fide route.

An appreciative group of Vermont fans greeted their payers as the team emerged from the dressing room for the second period, but the sympathy applause was not quite enough. One minute and 41 seconds later the U.Nm Cats were trailing by seven goals.

Todd Neiland began the second stanza assault, as his point drive at 1:05 sped unheeded past a beleaguered McNamara. Shortly thereafter. Ed Rossi dented the cords for the first of his two goals, taking a pass from Thorndike (again vis Thomas) and driving it home from 35 feet out.

The fans at Watson at that point were only concerned with two questions: How high the Crimson tally would go, and whether Petrovek would get his second consecutive shutout.

The Petrovek speculation was answered at 10:23 of the middle period, when U.Vm Tom Colby broke in to the Crimson zone uncovered and squirted the puck between Petro's pads, making the score 7-1. The shot was one of only 15 which U.Vm's high powered offense directed at Petrovek all night.

The scoring did not end until 18:02 of the third period when Jim McMahon collected the tenth and final tally. Earlier in the period, Rossi picked up his second, and Roth scored his 13th of the year.

The scoring balance was overwhelming, the defense and forechecking spectacular. Harvard is tuned and ready for its defense of the Beanpot championship Monday night.