Bowling Green decided to stay home this year.

Just ask Falcon Coach Jerry York.

"We feel that home ice is a key factor," York said.

After falling twice to Harvard in the first round of the NCAA playoffs at Bright Center last year, the Falcons are hosting Vermont, another team that won't miss playing the Crimson. Harvard humbled the Catamounts, 7-1, in the consolation round of the ECAC tournament last Saturday at Boston Garden.

Vermont earned the fifth seed in the East, while Bowling Green garnered the fourth seed from the West. The Falcons (28-11-2) captured the CCHA title with an upset over Lake Superior State in the championship game.

The Catamounts (21-9-3) placed fourth in the ECAC Tournament after finishing fourth in the regular-season conference standings. Vermont has never competed in the NCAA Tournament before.

Last year's abbreviated appearance was Bowling Green's first since it captured the national championship in 1984. The Falcons needed four overtimes in that game to defeat Minnesota-Duluth.

Vermont and Bowling Green have not met this year, so both will seek to probe the other's strengths and weaknesses in the opening minutes.

"Not many teams have a chance to scout their opponents," York said.

Bowling Green will need to silence Vermont's potent first line, featuring lan Boyce, Kyle McDonough and Captain Toby Ducolon. McDonough's 40 points place him just two points ahead of Boyce and Ducolon. Goalie Mike Milham will enter the game with a 2.37 goals-against average.

"Vermont has a very explosive group of fowards," York said. "We feel they're capable of scoring goals and we're going to have to stop Boyce and McDonough."

Vermont will in turn have its hands full with the Falcon scoring attack, spearheaded by sophomore phenom Nelson Everson, Greg Parks and Dan Barber, Everson's 33 goals and 79 points were tops on the squad, with Parks and Barber tallying 71 and 63 points, respectively, Paul Connell will be guarding the goal, trying to lower his 4.16 g.a.a.