In its third match of the season, the Harvard golf team finished second yesterday in a three-way match against MIT and Northeastern.

The Crimson played a slow, six-hour match at the busy Stow Acre Country Club, where it had posted a respectable 380 on Monday. "We had a confident attitude towards the course," said freshman Rick Nichols. "That worked to our detriment."

"We didn't play so well today," added Co-Captain Jon Mosle. "We always crush MIT in golf." The Techies sliced their Mass. Ave rivals by 3 strokes, 387-390.

The match wasn't a total wipe-out for the Crimson. Chet Nastala, who was two under par on the back nine holes, shot an outstanding 73, one under par for the course. Nichols shot a 78, Mosle a 79 and Steve Baker and Emmett O'Donnell each finished at 80. MIT's seventh player proved to be the deciding factor, shooting a surprising 78.

The team is optimistic about the rest of the season. "We're playing much better than we did over spring break," Nichols said.

The Crimson gets home advantage against B.C. at The Country Club today. "We better beat them or I'm giving up as coach," said Coach Dick Crosby, who predicts the team will at least break even in its season. Next Tuesday, the team will travel to the Braeburn Country Club for the Greater Boston Tournament, where Harvard will get a rematch in its Red Line rivalry.