Harvard has also killed 23 out of 25 penalties for an amazing mark of 92 percent. Just the facts, please.

Besides his play on defense, Sweeney has added some offensive punch as his eight points lead all Crimson scorers.

This year's team has shared the wealth when it comes to getting the puck into the net. Ten of the team's 18 players have four or more points. The jerseys don't read "MacDonald," "Bourbeau," or "Barakett," but this year's icemen have proven they can score with any line on the ice. And at any time.

Just look at the facts, please. Such as the four-goal third period at New Haven that blew the Elis off the ice. Or the last-period comeback against Princeton where Harvard, down by three goals, tied the game within a span of eight minutes and won on a Tod Hartje overtime goal.

The next night, Armstrong opened the first period against Army with a goal. Four goals later, Ed Presz's score capped off the first-period barrage. Overall, the Harvard has averaged five goals per game. Just the facts, please.

But the doubts continue to linger. Harvard has to play a consistent 60 minutes of hockey if ithas any chance in repeating as ECAC champions.Will the icemen be able to come back from threegoals against tougher league opponents, such asColgate and Cornell, this weekend's rivals on theroad?

"We have played some great periods of hockey,"Kevan Melrose said, "but not consistently. Thisweekend, we have to play consistently."

Whether Harvard will ever reach a consistentlevel of play, teams are still eager to push theicemen around the rink. And push them hard.

The Crimson, led by the tenacious play ofMelrose and Pawloski, have fought back. Bodiesflew against Princeton. Benches cleared againstthe Cadets. Penalties occurred almost every minuteagainst Dartmouth. Yet, the Crimson have stillmanaged to win, even though the action on the icehas not been as chivalric as before.

So, as the Crimson prepares to face off withthe more serious ECAC contenders, the skepticswill sit back and watch. If Harvard comes out ofupstate New York undefeated, many skeptics will besilenced. Harvard will still be the team to beatin the ECAC.

If the icemen manage to split their two gamesthis weekend, the skeptics will proclaim the ECACrace a wild shootout with no clear favorite.

And if Harvard cannot win in New York, thenthose same skeptics will point to those samereasons that Cleary has heard all season long.

As of now, let the facts speak for themselves