This match-up has promise to become one of the tournament's best to date. The Terriers enter with a 7-1-1 record and a strong, well-balanced team. Co-Captains Jeffy Cowles and Nancy Mike, both seniors, are extremely steady on defense, and senior center Debbie Gautreau averages 3.4 points a game and senior wing Lisa Cowen 2.4 points a game.

But the real stalwart of the B.U. squad is junior goalie Lisa Whitcomb. A Stoneham, Mass. native, Whitcomb has recorded three shutouts in four Beanpot appearances and had a hot tournament two years ago when the Terriers won the classic.

"Our opponent is going to have to take a lot of shots to beat her," said Christakos of Whitcomb, who has a solid 1.44 goals-against average so far this season.

But if one team in the tournament is capable of taking a lot of shots it's Northeastern. The Huskies (9-3 on the year) boast two solid offensive lines, with junior center Carolyn Sullivan, freshman center Lisa Sylvia and freshman right wing Kerrie Cronin the players to watch. The trio was red hot in a recent 9-5 triumph over women's hockey powerhouse Princeton.

And on defense, freshman Sharon Stidsen, senior Patti MaGrath, junior Roseann Boyd and sophomore Beth Murphy have turned last year's weak Huskie defense into one of the nation's finest.

In goal, freshman Patti Hunt, with a 1.32 goals-agains verage, has taken over the number-one position. But Northeastern won't hesitate to go to last year's top netminder, Kathy Scanlan.

Boston College vs. Harvard: B.C. has had little success in Beanpot play, turning in a 2-6 record. Meanwhile, the defending champion Crimson squad has not fared much better, skating to a 3-5 mark in the tournament. The two teams, which have not met yet this year, appear to be heading in opposite directions, though.

The Eagles, under Coach Peggy Cameron (the holder of the tourney career goalie saves record, with 164 from 1979-1981) are extremely young and have only recorded one win in nine games so far this year.

"We have a team made up of a lot of freshmen and sophomores," Cameron said. "We have a goaltender [junior Anne Marie Looney] who is just learning the position, and we have some questionable areas on defense, so we're interested in playing an all-out offensive game. Quite frankly, we're back to square one."

The Eagles' junior center Lynne Murray is the player B.C. will look to for help against the strong Harvard squad.

At 6-5, the Crimson has had recent troubles finishing off its opponents after a strong start, but seems to be regaining its early-season form. "We're strong at both the forward and defensive positions, but we have to make sure we forecheck really well if we expect to play well," Dooley said.

The icewomen will need a strong performance from junior goalie Cheryl Tate, the MVP of last year's tournament after Harvard had finished last in the previous three Beanpots. Tate, who set tourney records with 67 saves in the five-overtime game and 89 saves in the two-game tournament, has a 4.1 goals-against average and an 85.6 save average in 10 games this season.

Juniors Diane Hurley and Kathy Carroll are the Crimson's top scorers, and seniors Jennifer White, Vicki Palmer and Alex Lightfoot are all key players.