Senior Jim Savage, one of the 17 Harvard fans who rode the bus to Walter Brown Arena last night, gave his reason for attending the game. "I just have to see Lance Nethery play one more time," Savage said.

Well, all-American Lance, who beat Harvard 4-3 in overtime last February, was just okay (one goal, three assists), but the real story in Cornell's 4-2 win over the Crimson last evening was the performance of high-scoring sophomore Brock Tredway. Tredway used Nethery's set-ups for three goals in the first two periods and left Harvard with its second straight well-played loss and 13th setback of the season.

Joining Tredway in the winner's circle was Cornell's freshman netminder Brian Hayward, who neutralized the Harvard attack with 26 saves in the triumph that moved the Big Red into third place in Division. One of the ECAC with a 9-5 record.

Cornell led 2-1 at the end of the first on power play goals by Tredway and Nethery, who had a 30-game scoring streak snapped last Saturday night against Dartmouth, made his "slump" only temporary, as he figured on both tallies.

Tredway took a point pass from Nethery at the edge of the left face-off circle and blazed a slapshot to the short side past John Hynes for the game's first score at 3:32. It was the 22nd goal in only 18 games for the Highland Creek, Ontario stud.

At 11:08, with Harvard defenseman Mitch Olson off for high-sticking, Nethery found Tredway covered and let go a slapshot of his own from the left point that parallel-parked into the lower right corner.

Harvard managed to sandwich a powerplay score between the two Cornell tallies when senior Gene Purdy popped his first goal since returning last week from a wrist injury that had sidelined him for 11 games.

The goal capped an aggressive Crimson power play, a rare occurence these days. Jack Hughes led Mike Watson at the blue line, and the freshman skated by three Cornell defenders and fed the puck perfectly to Purdy at the right circle. Geno flicked it short side past a poorly positioned Harvard.

Despite an early barage by the icemen to open the period, Tredway copped his hattrick and put the Big Red up 4-2 after two.

Hayward sticked aside seven or eight Harvard chances in the early going before Cornell got its act together at 4:44. Nethery (that man again) hit Tredway (that man again) with a centering pass close in and the sophomore scoring machine ripped it by Hynes.

Tredway got his trick at 16:32 when Harvard defensemen Jim Trainor and Alan Litchfield had trouble pushing the puck up ice. Nethery stole the disc at the red line and fed Tredway in unscathed for an easy goal.

For what it's worth, Harvard once again had the prettiest goal of the period, as George Hughes's 13th of the season made it 3-2 at 15:16.

The Crimson was running its fast-break offense when Purdy sent George in on a partial breakaway. Tredway attempted to trip the elder Hughes, but George cut quickly to his left, moved Hayward way out of position, and deposited a tough angle shot to the right corner.

The tally, a typical Hughes masterpiece, moved the senior forward into undisputed possession of third place on the all-time Harvard scoring list past Bob McManama '73. Hughes now has 152 points for his career and, barring any Lance Nethery-type hijinx, will not catch number two man Joe Cavanaugh by the season's end.

Meanwhile, there's no optimism on the bus any more, only memories. "Tradition. That's the reason why we always go," said law student Dave Clarke. "There's just nothing else left."