Everything worked for the lacrosse team Saturday. As the defense obliterated the Dartmouth attack, Harvard's crisp passing and deadly shooting reduced the Indians' defense to open-mouthed wonder.

When it was over the Crimson owned a decisive 12-6 victory, and the Animals scampered back to the Hanover hills, thoroughly beaten.

In the Ivy League's other crucial game Princeton edged Yale, 13-12, to tie Harvard for the league lead. The title will be decided next week when the Crimson finishes its season at Yale, and Princeton plays at Dartmouth.

The Crimson was in complete control from the opening face-off. Tink Gunnoe emerged from a scramble and whipped a pass to Dexter Newton, who relayed the ball to Pete Wood streaking down the sideline. When Lou Williams flipped in Wood's pass the game was 45 seconds old.

Wood scored unassisted less than a minute later, and the Big Green was gasping. After a brief respite captain Wood, who scored three goals for the second straight game, batted in a rebound for Harvard's third goal at 7:34.

With two seconds left in the period Dick Ames scored the first of three goals the Crimson made while a man short, and it was 4-0.

Dartmouth tried to fight back, but was completely outmanned. Attackmen and midfielders harrassed the Indians so badly they hardly ever cleared a ball cleanly. Once in the attacking zone, the Animals had to deal with the awesome trio of Charlie Kessler, Dan Calderwood and Fred Gates, and got mostly bruises for heir trouble.

Dartmouth managed only one score in the second period as Gunnoe, Mike Bassett and Ted Leary increased Harvard's margin to 7-1 at halftime.

Second Half

The second half was more of the same, only rougher, and 20 penalties were called, 11 against the Crimson. "That's the way they treat their dates, too" a coed shuddered, as a Dartmouth stick collided with a Harvard rib cage during one melee.

Wood and Ames each had three goals and two assists; Williams scored two goals and an assist, and Leary two goals.

Wally Whitney made three assists and played a brilliant field game, as did his mates on the second midfield. Mike Bassett and Larry Palmer. Twice Whitney filched the ball while killing a penalty, outraced the defense, and set-up teammates for scores.