After RPI suffered two penalties within six seconds, the Crimson had a five on-three situation. Just nine seconds after play resumed. Mark Fusco (two goals, three assists) hit on a boomer from the point to extend Harvard's lead to 3-1 at 13:22.
Mark scored again at 17:30 on a nifty move that split the Engineer defense and ended with a little wrist shot between Saari's legs, and then Scott Fusco (two goals, one assist) had his turn.
The younger Fusco closed the scoring in the first period by taking a long, cross-ice, blueline to-blueline pass from Sheehy and beating Saari to the upper right corner at 18:20.
Harvard got its second power play goal, and its biggest lead (6-1) of the game at 5:34 of the second, when Scott took a pass from Mark and slapped the puck off a defenseman and by the screened Saari.
RPI started its comeback shortly thereafter, but Britz's goal, and 35 saves from Blair over the final "two periods, sent the Crimson back to Cambridge with a victory.
THE NOTEBOOK: The three stars of the game, as selected by the attending media: Mark Fusco, Scott Fusco, Scott Saari... The last held the Crimson scoreless for 26:19 between the second Scott Fusco tally and the Britz goal... Harvard Sports information Director Jim Greenidge, who spent 10 years in the same position at RPI before taking over at Harvard this summer, was greeted warmly by many old friends, including four who hung a banner from the fieldhouse rafters proclaiming. "HiJim, Welcome Back. We Miss You." Greenidge gloated over Harvard's win, of course... In the third period, when RPI was still making a comeback. Blair got pulled out of the net during a flurry in front. No need to worry, however, as Scott Fusco stepped in and actually made a save. Scoring R Mike Dark (Bestle, Neinhurs) 2:51, H. Tony Visone (Britz, M Fusco) 6:15, H. Neil Sheetly (unassisted) 12:54, H. Mark Fusco (S. Fusco, Turner) 13: 22; H. M Fusco (Chaimers, Burks) 17:30, H. Scott Fusco (G. Oison, Sheey) 18:20, H. S Fusco (M Fusco, Code) 5:34; R. DeBrase (Collins, Shumaku) 13:52; R. Servinis (Dallman) 17:20; R. Sadeghpour (Magnuson, Friday) 4:23; H. Greg Britz (Code, M Fusco) 12:13. Saves H. Grant Blair, 44; R. Scott Saari, 30 Attendence: 3000.