"We didn't play terribly well in the first half," Crimson Co-Captain Tom Corcoran said. "But we pulled ourselves together late in the game."
Harvard charged back with three fourth-quarter tallies. Down by only one goal, the Crimson looked like it might salvage another come-from-behind triumph.
But when the Crimson drew a penalty with a minute left, its cause looked hopeless.
That is, until Harvard Coach Bob Scalise asked for a stick measurement on one of the UMass player's sticks. The referees found the stick was indeed too long and the Crimson had the one man advantage.
But in the final minute, it could not convert.
And its slim chances of snagging one of 10 in the NCAA Tournament grew slimmer.
"We'll have to win all of our remaining games," Corcoran said. "And hope we get lucky."
THE NOTEBOOK: The Crimson's next game is at Holy Cross Saturday...Vita finished with eight saves...Harvard got two goals from Brad Raymond, Rob Hurlbut, Chris Pujols and Clark, and one goal from Corcoran.