The lights went out in the Boston Arena in the second period. Northeastern advanced to the final round. And they tell me that the french fry man here died three years ago...

Welcome to the first annual Women's Beanpot.

The Huskies were just about the only thing at the Arena that didn't suffer from some kind of power failure last night as they shut out the Harvard women's hockey team 4-0 in the opening round of the affirmative-action version of the first two Mondays in February at the Garden.

Regardless of the outcome, the icewomen effectively laid to rest the notion of a mismatch against the powerful NU squad. "I think it's the best we've played all season," said coach Joe Bertagna. "Northeastern is as good as any team we've played, including Providence," he added.

Lest we forget the 17-0 and 14-3 sandblastings at the sticks of the Lady Friars, Harvard was impressive, especially defensively, where backliners Julie Starr, Alison Bell and Anna Jones, and forwards Tania Huber and Lauren Norton killed off five penalties and thwarted many an NU bombing mission.

Thoughts of a Northeastern team winning a Beanpot in anything did their best to unravel the usual crisp attack of the Huskies at the outset. Northeastern found itself on top only 1-0 at the end of the first, thanks mainly to some spirited back-checking and occasional offense by Harvard.

Defenseman Pattie Magrath notched the NU goal with 2:39 to play in the opening stanza. Center Diane Sorrenti broke into the Crimson zone, skated by defenseman Jones into the right corner, and centered the puck. Trouble for Northeastern was, there was nobody to center it to. Trouble for Harvard came when the puck caromed off the left boards and out to Magrath at the point. Her blazer from just inside the blue line outraced Worsley to the far side for the score.

The Huskies began to get their act together in the second period, particularly Sorrenti, who assisted and scored the two NU tallies that made it 3-0 with one period to play.

Northeastern buzzed around the Harvard cage throughout the frame, and this, coupled with the Crimson's inability to clear (Now where have I written this before?), sparked some strong play in the cage by Nelia Worsley. The Gumpess stopped six shots in the second and gave notice to her constant improvement during her rookie season between the pipes.

But it was Sorrenti who turned the lights out on Harvard before it literally happened. After assisting on Tricia Devine's goal at 1:45, the junior from Sudbury, Ma. waited until time had almost run out in the second before doing the maringue by three Harvard defenders and letting a twine-minded wrist shot loose from the left face-off circle.

In the opening game, Boston College advanced to the finals against Northeastern when goalie Peggy Cameron's 23-save performance buoyed the Eagles to a 4-1 win over Boston University.

Harvard will face the Terriers in the consolation game tonight at 7 p.m., while BC and NU will tangle for the pot at nine. SCORE BY PERIODS HARVARD (6-9-2)  0  0  0 Northeastern (12-4)  1  2  1

SCORING SUMMARY

First Period: NU--Pattie Magrath (Diane Sorrenti, Barbara Muldoon) 12:11. Second Period: NU--Tricia Devine (Sorrenti) 1:45. NU--Sorrenti (unassisted) 14:51. Third Period: NU--Muldoon (Sorrenti, Christine Yanetty) 8:58.

GOALTENDING

Saves: Diane DerBoghosian (NU)--12

Nelia Worsley (H)--19