The varsity stickmen held Cornell at bay nearly 13 minutes Saturday in Ithaca, N.Y., but the Big Red exploded for four points in one and a half minutes and never trailed again en route to an 18-8 victory.

The Crimson, 0-8, surprised Cornell early, with attackman John Hagerty, who continued his spring uprising with four goals and an assist, tallying unassisted with 2:56 gone.

Cornell responded with two goals before attachman Steve Milliken, who earned the hat trick Saturday, notched his first on an assist from midfielder Bob Frisbie, to tie at 2-2, with two and a half minutes left in the quarter.

Cornell, tired of toying with the stick-men, then roated back for its four-goal flurry, to end the quarter leading, 6-2. Midfielder Doug Johnstone scored twice in this rash of points, and middies Chris Murison and Mike Cunnningham added one each.

Yet Hagerty, who has achieved a sudden outbreak in Harvard stats by working his defender into the ground, and then streaking to the crease, scored unassisted again to begin the second period, 6-3.

By the time Frisbie dented the nets, unassisted, at 14:29, Cornell had run up an 11.3 margin.

Spearheaded by Cunningham's five goals and Murison's two goals and three assists, the Big Red kept a ten-point cushion through the remainder of the game.

Milliken on an assist by Hagerty, Hagerty by himself, Milliken unassisted, and Hagerty again on an assist from attackman Jim Quinn finished off Harvard scoring.

Except for Frisbie's goal and assist, all points came from the Harvard attack, which outshot the midfield, 24-13. Cornell took 55 shots, and Crimson goalie Brian Everist earned 24 saves.

Cruising

Meanwhile, at Governor Dummer Academy, the freshman lacrosse squad cruised to a 19-2 triumph, to boost its record to 4-0.

The Yardlings jumped to an 11-0 lead before the Governors scored, on goalie Bruce Poliquin, to end the half at 11-1.

Pacing the Crimson scoring was, again, Kevin McCall, on attack, with three goals and three assists. Attackman Daily Kennedy added two goals and four assists, midfielder Greg Jackmauh four goals, and attackman Rick Sondik three goals.