Harvard sophomore Pete Ciavaglia is known as Mr. Assist. He is the man who set up 48 goals this season--just two shy of the Crimson season record.

But when the Harvard hockey team met Lake Superior State in a best-of-three NCAA quarterfinal series two weekends ago, Ciavaglia decided to get selfish with the puck. The sophomore netted his first career hat trick in Game 2 as Harvard triumped, 5-2, to sweep its series with the defending national champion Lakers. The Crimson defeated Lake Superior State, 4-2, in the first game.

"I always look for the open man, but it seemed like tonight I was the open guy," Ciavaglia said.

Ciavaglia scored in man-up, man-down and 5-on-3 situations. He scored on a breakaway, a pretty passing sequence and a rebounded slapshot. He scored once, he scored twice, then he scored one more time.

And Lake Superior State Coach Frank Anzalone shook his head in frustration.

"Pete Ciavaglia is the player we thought we had to shut down," Anzalone said. "Pete Ciavaglia is a dominant college hockey player. He can take a hit, he can take a stick. He's tougher than other players."

Ciavaglia started his scoring streak at the halfway mark of the first period when he picked up a pass in the neutral zone and skated in alone on Laker goalie Bruce Hoffort. Hoffort, a first-team All-America and a Hobey Baker finalist, found himself caught with the side of the net wide open.

Down 2-1 in the second period, Harvard was blessed with a 5-on-3 opportunity that Ciavaglia converted into his second goal at the 10:40 mark. Three minutes later he clinched the game with a stuff of a rebounded C.J. Young shot.

"I seemed to be in the right place tonight," Ciavaglia said. "It was just bouncing right on my stick. It was the greatest feeling."

Friday, Harvard capitalized on three of five power-play opportunities as Anzalone watched his Lakers take a series of what he called "stupid penalties."

C.J. Young opened the scoring just 5:14 into the first period, John Weisbrod added a goal at the 15:36 mark of the second period and junior Ed Krayer netted the game-winner four minutes later to put Harvard ahead, 3-0, heading into the final period.

"Everybody talks about us as a skating team, but I think we've shown this year that we can play against any style people want to throw at us," Harvard Coach Bill Cleary said. "We used to be referred to as a bunch of midgets, but we've got some guys who can take care of themselves out there."

Crimson, 4-2 at Bright Center Laks Superior St.  0-0-2--2 Harvard  1-2-1--4

First Period--1, H, Young 32 (Donato) 5:14. Penalties--L, Keczmer (interference) 3:58; H, Hartje (high sticking) 6:06; L, Cernich (holding) 10:08; L, Cernich (roughing) 16:12; H, Weisbrod (holding) 16:12; H, Hartje (slashing) 19:13; H, Donato (roughing) 19:13; L, Harris (roughing) 19:13; L, Astley (roughing) 19:13.

Second Period--2, H, Weisbrod 22 (Krayer, Melrose) 15:36; 3, H, Krayer 8 (Melrose, Caplan) 19:22. Penalties--H, Bourbeau (holding) 0:40; L, Jablonski (slashing) 2:45; L, Decarle (interference) 5:47; L, Palumbo (10 minute misconduct) 6:04; H, Sneddon (holding) 10:02; L, Chapdelaine (interference) 14:14; L, Harris (roughing) 16:16; H, Presz (roughing) 16:16; L, Dowd (cross checking) 17:27; H, Melrose (high sticking) 19:30.