The varsity hockey team took another step towards Minnesota tonight as it overwhelmed a scrappy B.C. sextet, 8 to 1, at the Boston Arena.

What makes this victory so impressive is the fact that the Eagles had just returned from New York with a 3-1 victory over St. Lawrence, a team that beat the varsity in the beginning of the year and that was, until recently, a top candidate for an NCAA berth.

The Crimson had trouble doing anything wrong as it played one of its best games of the year. The three lines were in top form, but the most encouraging factor of the game was really the outstanding play of the varsity defense. It effectively throttled any kind of attacks the Eagles could muster and continually set up plays for the Crimson forwards.

Captain Bob Cleary again led the varsity scoring with four points on two goals and two assists. Dave Vietze also scored twice while Dick Fischer, Lyle Guttu, Terry O'Malley, and Bill Collins all added single tallies. Tom Walsh scored the lone B.C. goal.

In winning its 14th game of the year, the varsity solidified its growing claim towards a berth at the NCAA finals on March 13. B.C., while it has no chance for an invitation, was touted as one of the most improved teams in the East and a sextet that could have acted the part of spoiler tonight. The Crimson's victory could hardly have been more impressive and will speak well for it when the Selections Committee makes its choice.

Crimson in Contest

In the last meeting between these two teams, the varsity was hard pressed throughout the first two periods and only won by virtue of a 5-goal third period attack. Tonight, the Crimson was in control the whole way.

The reason for this improvement can be found in the defense. It has been steadily improving in the last few games and was at its best tonight. Dan Ullyot, one of the varsity's steadiest defensemen was out with an injured leg but Mike Graney took over for him tonight and played a very good game. All four defensemen, Dick MaLaughlin, Les Duncan, Ed Owen, and Graney, checked well, broke up practically all of the Eagle attacks, and kept the puck coming back to their linemen.

The game began in a rough fashion as the referees handed out three penalties in the first six minutes of play. Cleary opened the scoring for the varsity when he took a pass from Guttu and scored on an open net. (Pitts was out of the cage, scurrying after a rebound.) Fischer made it 2-0 when he tipped in one of Owen's slap shots from the blue line at 15:30 of the opening period.

Guttu climaxed another first line passing play at 2:32 of the second period when he scored on a shot to the upper left hand corner of the cage. The nets were again open, as Cleary had faked Pitts out of position. Dave Vietze scored the first of his two goals less than two minutes later when he took a pass from Fischer and beat the B.C. goalie to the lower left-hand corner.

Eagles Tire

With the beginning of the third period, B.C. began to tire and the play almost entirely was centered in its zone. O'Malley made it 5-1 for the varsity at 1:15 of the final stanza as he converted on passes from Cleary and Guttu. The Eagle forwards then let up on their back-checking and just tried to contain the varsity at the B.C. blue line. Bill Collins scored at 4:39 when he managed to get clear in front of the cage and scored on a perfect pass from Bud Higgenbottom.

Cleary put the varsity ahead 7 to 1 when, with the varsity short one man on a penalty to McClaughlin, he scored on a classic breakaway. The Crimson captain took the puck in front of his own net and literally stickhandled his way through the entire B.C. team to score. The goal gave him his 61st point of the year, 28 behind his brother's recordsetting total of 89. Vietze scored the final varsity goal at 15:41 when he tallied on passes from Bob McVey and Les Duncan.

The J.V. hockey team won one of its most important games of the year this afternoon when it edged the B.U. freshmen 4 to 3. Laurie Pratt, Fin Lewis, Bill DeFord, and John Morgan scored for the Crimson.