Harvard's surging hockey team collided with the high flying, highly ranked Providence College Friars last night in Providence and the result was disappointing to both squads--a 4-4 deadlock.

The Crimson were guarding a 4-3 lead when Dan Kennedy slipped the puck past Brian Petrovek with 4:10 remaining in regulation play to knot the score.

The teams then played what was to be the deciding overtime period. Harvard did not lose any momentum despite the late Friar tally as they outshot Providence 11-7 in the overtime, but the Crimson couldn't get one in the net.

The Harvard sextet held the early lead on goals by Captain Kevin Carr, Paul Haley, David Bell, and Bill Horton. Providence battled back, with two scores by Randy Wilson, one by Brian Burke, and one by Kennedy to tie it.

The Providence squad had prevailed in 11 of their last 13 outings. The Friars have been sparked of late by the play of Randy Wilson's All-American brother Ron, who recently quit the Olympic team.

Harvard has been creeping up in the national standings in the past three weeks. In mid-December, the Crimson were not even included in the top twenty teams in the nation. Last week they made the top twenty and this week they are listed as 10th.

The Crimson are now 4-4-2 overall, and 2-3-2 in ECAC play, while Providence has an overall record of 10-6-2, and a 7-3-2 record in conference action.

Last night's game sets up Saturday night's critical rematch at Watson rink. After the rematch with the Friars, the Crimson host the B.C. Eagles, another team Harvard played to a draw, on Tuesday night.

The icemen will have to stay sharp during the exam break, because they face a powerful Boston University squad in the opening round of the Beanpot tourney, February 2.