Minnesota tried to open the game up late in theopening period when the officials whistled theCrimson for three successive penalties. ButHarvard's penalty-killing unit, led by theAll-America duo of MacDonald and junior C.J.Young, shut out the Gophers.

"They killed those penalties well," saidMinnesota Coach Doug Woog, who admitted that hissquad was a little bit tired after its win Fridaynight against Maine in the semifinals. "But Ithink if you're a little bit more fresh, you comeout on the ice with more gusto."

Harvard tied the game, 1-1, with 13:30remaining in the second period, thanks totournament MVP Ted Donato's first goal of thenight.

While Minnesota's Todd Richards watched fromthe penalty box, MacDonald skated into the zone,passed the puck back to Bourbeau, who quicklydished it off to Donato. The sophomore forwardfired a shot that screamed past Stauber.

In the third period, Donato broke a 2-2 tie atthe 12:53 mark when he stuffed in a rebound off ashot from freshman Kevin Sneddon.

But with the partisan crowd screaming from allsections of the Civic Center, the Gophers stillhad a little go-go in their skates.

"I knew it wasn't over," Donato said."Minnesota is too good a team to just give up."

Minnesota got its chance to even the game whenJohn Weisbrod was called for a questionablecross-checking penalty as he was shifting lines atthe 14:46 mark of the final period.

With 12 seconds remaining on the Gopher powerplay, Pederson passed the puck to Pete Hankinsonby the right side of the net. Hankinson's shotslipped past Hughes, and the score was tied, 3-3.

The Crimson almost won in regulation, butStauber blocked a Mike Vukonich shot in front ofthe net with 2:16 left in the game.

Vukonich and his Crimson team-mates would justhave to wait until the overtime period.

"I think a lot of people doubted that we wouldever win a national title," Cleary said. "I thinkit proves that our kids can play hockey againstanyone."

Even when it's against 15,000 screaming fansand their beloved hockey team.

Crimson, 4-3 at St. Paul Civic Center

Minnesota  1-1-1-0--3Harvard  0-2-1-1--4