Wednesday evening at Northeastern's Mathews Arena, four beans are going to be thrown into a boiling caldron--and you can bet that the two labled Harvard and Northeastern are going to rise towards the top.

The sport is women's ice hockey, and the tournament is the eighth annual Women's Beanpot.

The Crimson (6-6-1 overall) enters the 'Pot, which consists of Harvard, Boston College, Boston University, and Northeastern, with a string of impressive post-exam performances, including a 3-1 win at Yale last Friday.

Despite a hard-fought 2-1 loss at the hands of Ivy-power Brown in Providence Saturday, Harvard's young squad--just two seniors and a single junior--is showing definite signs of developing the disciplined and dependable game that makes consistent winning hockey possible.

"This team is coming along beautifully," said Harvard Coach John Dooley. "In preparing for the Beanpot, we're coming together more and more with team play. Our freshman, and even some of our sophomores, who are used to playing as individuals, are beginning to understand the team concept."

"We spent the first half [of the season] learning system hockey, and our victory over Yale shows that we've got a good handle on it at this stage of the game," Dooley added.

The first round prognosis for Harvard is excellent, as it faces the grounded Eagles of Boston College (1-6 overall).

Women's hockey at BC has only club sport status, and judging by the way the Eagles are playing this season, that doesn't seem likely to change any time soon.

The Crimson blasted the Eagles, 11-0, early in the season in a contest in which Harvard directed an incredible 81 shots on goal, and Johanna Neilson and Co-Captain Genie Simmons both notched hat tricks.

Based on that performance, Karen Carney--the team's second leading scorer with eight goals and 10 assists--betrayed her team's confidence level, "We know we can get by BC."

In fact, though it may be tempting the sometimes-unpredictable gods of sports fate, Harvard is definitely gazing past the Eagles. "We can't look by them, but we are," sophomore Co-Captain Julie Sasner said.

And with good reason.

Because before Harvard can capture the 'Pot trophy in next Tuesday's final, it will probably have to stickhandle and pass its way past steaming-hot Northeastern.

If you're a betting person, bet on the Huskies to get by first-round foe Boston University and be waiting for the Crimson.

Northeastern is recruited, talented, and 9-3-1. All three of its losses came at the hands of dynasty-like University of New Hampshire.