On April 1, the Harvard men's hockey team captured the Crimson's first NCAA title in 85 years with a 4-3 overtime triumph over Minnesota in St. Paul, Minn.

The small crowd of Crimson fans in St. Paul Civic Center waved banners aloft and shouted in celebration as Harvard received the long-awaited NCAA trophy at center ice.

But the cheering started long before that April night in St. Paul. In the season-opening game, the Olympic duo of Captain Lane MacDonald and Allen Bourbeau returned to Bright to a standing ovation.

There were many big moments to come: a 5-1 triumph over undefeated and number-one ranked St. Lawrence in Canton, N.Y., a Beanpot, an ECAC regular-season title, a two-game sweep of defending national champion Lake Superior State in the NCAA quarterfinals, and, finally, the trip to St. Paul.

But the cheers just kept getting louder.

Here's a trip through the 1988-89 championship season:

November 11: Claiming that his team was a "little rusty," Harvard Coach Bill Cleary begins his 18th season in Cambridge with a 6-2 victory over Yale.

Bright Center gives MacDonald and Bourbeau a homecoming ovation.

November 12: Playing without an injured Olympic duo, Harvard edges Brown, 3-2, at Bright Center.

John Weisbrod tallies the game-winner with 2:23 left to play in the second period.

The Harvard defense and goalie Allain Roy stop any thoughts of a Bruin upset.

November 18: In the land of the U.S. Military Academy, the Crimson invades Army's Tate Rink and lights up the red.

The five-forward power-play set of MacDonald, Bourbeau, C.J. Young, Peter Ciavaglia and Ted Donato collects two early power-play goals. Goalie Mike Francis is Harvard's shield of defense.

November 19: While the Harvard football loses to Yale, 26-17, at The Stadium, the Harvard hockey team is nearly upset by the Princeton Tigers.

With the score tied, 5-5, the Crimson--led by MacDonald's hat trick and Bourbeau's four-point performance--racks up four third-period goals to trounce the Tigers, 9-5.