ST. PAUL, Minn.--In the Twin Cities, it will be known forever as the goal that silenced 15,000 screaming Minnesota Golden Gopher fans and their beloved hockey team.

But on the banks of the Charles, it will be known as the goal that gave Harvard Coach Bill Cleary reason to dance all over the ice here at the St. Paul Civic Center.

Saturday night in front of a partisan crowd of 15,861 spectators from the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Crimson forward Ed Krayer tallied a goal 4:16 into overtime to defeat the Gophers, 4-3, in the finals of the 1989 NCAA tournament. As the puck skirted past Minnesota goalie Robb Stauber, Crimson players hurled helmets and sticks into the air. For the first time in the 41-year history of the tournament, Harvard (31-3) was champion of college hockey and the first Crimson team since the 1904 golf squad to win a NCAA title.

"I can't even describe the feeling," said Krayer, whose title-clinching goals was his third of the tournament, "It was unbelievable. I just couldn't believe it."

Freshman defenseman Brian McCormack set up Krayer's goal with a slap shot from the left side of the blue line. Stauber made the save, but the Minnesota defense couldn't clear out the puck.

In stepped Krayer from the right side of the net. A backhand shot. A slow roller across the crease and into the net. Golden Gophers staring dejectedly at the red light. A group of Crimson players hugging Krayer.

Dance, Coach Cleary, dance. Followed by the rest of the Harvard players.

"I just hopped over the boards, along witheveryone else. It was a great feeling," seniorAllen Bourbeau said. "It was madness. That's theonly way to describe it. Pure madness."

But even madness must have its method. And themethod of this Crimson squad, the best in schoolhistory, was simple: control the game.

"In overtime, we decided that we had to stayaggressive and not become tentative like we didagainst UVM [three weeks ago, when Harvard lost tothe Catamounts, 3-2, in the ECAC semifinals],"Hobey Baker winner and Crimson Captain LaneMacDonald said.

Visions of UVM, however, reappeared for a briefmoment when Minnesota defensman Tom Pederson fireda shot past Harvard goalie Chuckie Hughes with7:53 left in the overtime period. The state ofMinnesota thought the Gophers had wrapped up thetheir first national title since 1979. Pederson'sshot, however, hit only post.

"It wasn't going in," said Hughes, who finishedthe game with 33 saves. "You just forget about itand keep playing the game."

And it was a game that will certainly beremembered as a tournament classic. Both teamsskated, both teams relied on solid goaltending anddefense, and both teams scored clutch goals.

"To me, it's a tribute to the way the gameshould be played," Cleary said.

The Gophers took a 1-0 lead at the 13:36 markof the first period when Jon Anderson scored hisfourth goal of the tournament off a pass from BenHankinson.