Harvard proved beyond a doubt yesterday that it is the best lacrosse team in Cambridge by overcoming its first-period lethargy and going on to rout M.I.T., 23-6. on the Business School field.

The 23-goal output ties the Harvard record. and some Crimson players expressed confidence after the game that had they known that a new record was within reach, they might have mounted a drive to score a few more goals.

Erratic Passing

Daring the first quarter, it appeared that either team could claim to be the best, or the worst, in the city. Passing by both sides was erratic, and most of the action was brutal body contact in pursult of the many ground balls.

John Ince. who scored five times during the afternoon, earned his first goal of the game and season after a minute of play, and Cle Landolt added another 40 seconds later to put the Crimson out in front. 2-9.

Then however. Engineers Tony Reish and Ken Lord scored to tie the game as play became more sloppy than anything else. Paul Bloom and Leif Rosenberger put the ball past M.I.T. goalie Mark Weinberg to give the Crimson a shaky 4-2 lead after the first period.

Harvard's performance contimed to be uninspired for the next seven minutes, and the Engineers scorel again daring that time to narrow the deficit to one.

Long Clearing Pass

A long last. Ince received a long clearing pass from the Crimson defense, ran down behind the M.I.T. net, and fod to Rosenberger, who fired in a high shot from 15 yeards out. Harvart spent the rest of the period scoring almost at will, and several of the goals came as a ??? of sharp passing which had been lacking until liten.

After Cabie Warren and Bruce Regan tallied twice each. Harvard left the field with a 13-3 halftime lead. By that point, M.I.T. had a new goalie-Chester Nakamura. "I couldn't even see the hall leave their sticks" he explained.

Though the Crimson had to sottle for five goals in the third perod it dominated play in that quarter more than it had all afternoon. Harvard kept the ball in the M.I.T. zone for nearly the full time, and on the few occasions that the Engineers cleared the ball the Crimson quickly got it back, twice on nice clears by Don Gogel.

With his team up. 18-3, coach Bruce Munro emptied his bench in the fourth period. and Brian Landry replaced John Cosentino in the goal. The Engineers scored their final three goals. but meanwhile attackman Steve Leahy fired in his second and third tallies of the day, and Charlie Scott collected the record-tying goal on an assist from John Powers.

Harvard also had a productive day interms of penalties. The Crimson committed 12 penalties, while M.I.T. was guilty of one.