And it wasn't. With Hrkac, Bob Joyce and hot freshman goaltender Ed Belfour, UND is an odds-on favorite to wrap up number 40--and number one--tomorrow night.

No disgrace at all.

Just a lot of pain and disappointment.

Fighting Sioux, 5-2 at Joe Louis Arena Harvard (28-5)  0-0-2--2 North Dakota (39-8)  1-3-1--5

First Period--1, ND, Brent Bobyck 7 (Tony Hrkac, Mike LaMoine) 10:17. Penalties--Scott Koberinski, ND, (tripping) 15:40.

Second Period--2, ND, Bob Joyce 51 (Hrkac, Steve Johnson) 8:42; 3, ND, Hrkac 46 (Joyce) 12:37; 4, ND, Mickey Krampotich 27 (Johnson, Lee Davidson) 17:57. Penalties--Butch Cutone, H, (holding) 8:30; Don Sweeney, H, (high-sticking) 11:50; Malcolm Parks, ND, (high-sticking) 11:50; Tod Hartje, H, (roughing) 14:48.

Third Period--5, H, Allen Bourbeau 23 (unassisted) 3:02; 6, ND, Johnson 26 (Hrkac, Davidson) 10:13; 7, H, Tim Barakett 25 (Steve Armstrong) 12:29. Penalties--Tom Benson, ND, (high-sticking) 6:07; Nick Carone, H, (high-sticking) 9:11.

Saves--H, Dickie McEvoy, 6-14-9--29; ND, Ed Belfour, 11-13-13--37.

A--7526

Tonight, Michigan State faces off against Minnesota in the second semifinal of the NCAA Tournament. The winner will play North Dakota in the finals tomorrow night.